Mumbai’s Bollywood scene is once again embroiled in a heated title dispute with Manoj Bajpayee’s upcoming thriller ‘Ghuskhor Pandit’. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, the film portrays a corrupt cop nicknamed ‘Ghuskhor Pandit’, drawing sharp protests from Brahmin communities who claim it insults their sentiments by stereotyping the community.
Protesters argue the title targets an entire caste, sparking demands for immediate changes. This isn’t isolated; Bollywood has a history of titles igniting fury, leading to protests, legal battles, and censor board interventions.
Take ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’ (2023), starring Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani. Originally ‘Satyanarayan Ki Katha’, it faced backlash for hurting religious feelings, prompting a quick rename to focus on romance over divinity.
In 2020, Akshay Kumar’s ‘Laxmii’ bomb exploded into controversy. Titled ‘Laxmi Bomb’, the horror-comedy about a man possessed by a transgender ghost offended groups over linking goddess Laxmi with ‘bomb’ and alleged love jihad themes. It was shortened to ‘Laxmii’ amid political uproar.
Ajay Devgn’s ‘Thank God’ (2022) saw its Chitragupta character renamed ‘CG’ after accusations of mocking Hindu deities. The story of an ordinary man bargaining with the afterlife god in a life game format drew divine ire.
Salman Khan-produced ‘Loveyatri’ (2018) shifted from ‘Loveratri’ to avoid clashing with Navratri festivities, featuring debutants Ayush Sharma and Warina Hussain in a festive love tale.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epics faced massive pushback too. ‘Padmaavat’ (2018) with Deepika Padukone evolved from ‘Padmavati’ after Karni Sena’s violent protests over historical distortions in the queen’s saga against Alauddin Khilji.
Earlier, ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela’ (2013) expanded from plain ‘Ramleela’ to sidestep religious offense in its Romeo-Juliet inspired gangster romance starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone.
These incidents highlight Bollywood’s tightrope walk between creativity and cultural sensitivity. Makers often concede to title tweaks and edits to avoid bans, underscoring the power of public sentiment in shaping cinematic narratives.