iWorld
Manoj Bajpayee’s Ghooskhor Pandat faces FIR after caste backlash, makers remove promos
Mumbai: A teaser meant to build buzz has instead landed Netflix’s upcoming film Ghooskhor Pandat in legal and political trouble. Uttar Pradesh authorities have ordered an FIR against the film’s director and creative team after protests alleging caste insults and a threat to social harmony.
The case was registered at Hazratganj police station after clips from the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer went viral and were flagged for allegedly containing objectionable caste-based and religious remarks. Police said the FIR was filed by Hazratganj SHO Vikram Singh on the direction of chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
The filmmakers have been booked under sections 196 (promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race or caste), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 352 (apprehension of breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with section 66 of the IT Act. Officials said the move aligns with the state’s “zero-tolerance” stance on threats to communal harmony.
The controversy centres on the film’s title and scenes that critics say portray “Pandit” as a bribe-taker. Members of the Brahmin community have staged protests across several places, demanding a ban.
Political voices have amplified the outrage. BSP chief Mayawati called the title disrespectful and urged the Centre to halt the film’s release. In a post on X, she said the depiction was unacceptable and had angered the community. Former Babri Masjid litigant Iqbal Ansari labelled the title “highly objectionable” and sought legal action.
The National Human Rights Commission has also stepped in, issuing a notice to the information and broadcasting ministry on a complaint that the film promotes negative stereotypes and could fuel caste-based hostility.
Facing mounting pressure, the filmmakers moved quickly to contain the fallout. Neeraj Pandey said Ghooskhor Pandat is a fictional cop drama and that “Pandat” is merely a casual character name, not a caste reference. The team has temporarily withdrawn all promotional material.
“We understand that the title has caused hurt to some viewers, and we acknowledge those feelings,” Pandey wrote on Instagram, adding that the story focuses on an individual’s actions, not any community.
Bajpayee also responded, saying he “respects the emotions and concerns people have shared” and views them seriously. He described his role as that of “a flawed individual and his journey of self-realisation” and said it was never meant as commentary on any community. He added that working with Pandey has always reflected seriousness and responsibility, and that pulling down promotions showed the concerns were being taken seriously.
Part of Netflix India’s 2026 slate, the film marks another collaboration between the platform and Pandey after Khakee: The Bihar Chapter. It is directed by Ritesh Shah and Neeraj Pandey and features Nushrratt Bharuccha, Shraddha Das and Kiku Sharda in key roles.
For now, the film’s biggest drama is off-screen — where law, politics and sentiment are colliding faster than any scripted plot.
iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
