Manoj Bajpayee reveals trolls targeted daughter over Ghooskhor Pandat title row

Manoj Bajpayee has opened up about the personal toll the controversy surrounding his film Ghooskhor Pandat took on him and his family. The actor revealed that trolls shared pictures of his young daughter online, prompting him to consult his legal team.His upcoming film Gajab Raat, previously titled Ghooskhor Pandat, made headlines earlier this year after its original title sparked controversy. While the makers eventually changed the title, the backlash took a personal turn for Bajpayee.In an exclusive conversation with India Today, the actor spoke about the online trolling he and his family faced. "You know why it affected me? Because they brought my family into it," Bajpayee said. Recalling how anonymous social media users targeted his family, the actor shared, "They published and posted a picture of my family and said all sorts of things. The only thing was that their names were not mentioned. Who was the guy who had done it? If his name had been mentioned...When these bots are active and there are trolls without faces and without names, who are you going to...?" When asked whether the experience was frustrating for him, not just as an actor but also as a family man, Bajpayee made it clear that his biggest concern was protecting his loved ones."I am concerned about my family. And it was very brutal on their part to put my little daughter's face out there and say all sorts of things, without even having the guts to mention their own names. I was feeling that assault every hour. I was consulting my legal team. I was also consulting all the bureaucrats who have been my friends for so many years. And all of them told me only one thing: 'Manoj, ignore it. Right now, you can only ignore it.'" The actor's remarks shed light on how the controversy went beyond criticism of the film's title, with his family becoming the target of online attacks. Despite seeking advice from his legal team and acquaintances, Bajpayee said he was ultimately advised to ignore the trolling.For the unversed, Ghooskhor Pandat had faced objections over its title, with critics alleging that it hurt the sentiments of the Brahmin community. The matter also reached the courts, following which producer Neeraj Pandey withdrew the original title.The film, now titled Gajab Raat, is directed by Ritesh Shah and produced by Neeraj Pandey. The Netflix thriller also stars Divya Dutta, Saqib Saleem, Shraddha Das and Akshay Oberoi, among others. It is scheduled to premiere on October 23.- Ends