Actor Manoj Bajpayee has reacted to the controversy surrounding his upcoming Netflix film Infiltrator Pandit The project was accused of hurting religious and caste sentiments after an FIR was filed in Lucknow. Bajpayee reiterated that the film was not intended to target or insult any community, citing its fictional nature and its focus on portraying a character’s personal journey.
After Neeraj Pandey, Manoj Bajpayee reacts to Ghuskhor Pandat title: “Was not intended to make a statement about any community”
Following the complaint, an FIR was lodged at Hazratganj police station, alleging that the title and promotional material of the film defamed the Brahmin community by associating the word Pandit with corruption. The legal action came amid widespread backlash, including petitions in the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the film’s release as well as calls for a boycott on social media.
Sharing director Neeraj Pandey’s earlier statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Bajpayee said that he respects the sentiments and concerns expressed by members of the public. He wrote, “I respect the feelings and concerns people share and I take them seriously. When you’re part of something that hurts some people, it forces you to stop and listen.”
Bajpayee made it clear that he was involved Infiltrator Pandit The story was rooted in storytelling rather than any commentary on caste or community identity. He said, “As an actor, I come to a film through the character and the story that I am playing. For me, it was about portraying a flawed man and his journey of self-realization. It was not meant to make a statement about a community.”
In the same post, Bajpayee mentioned the care that director Neeraj Pandey takes in his work, keeping in mind their professional relationships. He wrote, “In my experience working with Neeraj Pandey, there has been a consistent seriousness and caution in how he approaches his films.”
He also pointed to the filmmakers’ decision to temporarily remove promotional material as a sign of their sensitivity to public sentiment. Bajpayee said, “Keeping in mind the sentiments of the public, the film makers have decided to remove the promotional material for some time. This reflects the seriousness with which the concerns are being raised.”
Director Neeraj Pandey had earlier issued his statement giving clarification. Infiltrator Pandit is a fictional police drama and the word Pandit is used only as a colloquial name of a character and not as a representation of any caste, religion or community. He acknowledged that the title had offended some viewers and confirmed the decision to remove the promotional material.
The controversy has escalated from public outrage, with legal petitions in the Delhi High Court arguing that associating a word historically associated with scholarship and spiritual authority with corruption amounts to mass defamation. The petitions argue that such portrayal can harm the dignity and reputation of an identifiable community, challenging the limits of creative expression under India’s legal framework.
