Mumbai, August 25: Taapsee Pannu’s upcoming film ‘Gandhari’ has become embroiled in controversy even before its release. Writer Kalyan Bandi has been vocal about his claims, stating that he penned a story titled ‘Gandhari’ in 2019, centered around human trafficking. He alleges that the film bears a striking resemblance to his original story, yet he has received no credit for it. The film’s writer and producer, Kanika Dhillon, has already dismissed these allegations, asserting that the film is entirely original.
In a recent interview, Kalyan elaborated on his claims. He mentioned, “I sent my story to Monica Shergill in 2019 when she was associated with Voot and is now the Vice President at Netflix. A month or two after submitting, I was informed that the concept did not fit the company’s commissioning list, and my script was returned.”
Kalyan explained that his story ‘Gandhari’ revolves around a woman confronting the human trafficking issue for a girl she considers her daughter. He stated, “The name ‘Gandhari’ has a mythological connection, which is why I chose it for my story. The title was my original idea. There is no direct link between the Mahabharata’s Gandhari and human trafficking, so associating the name with such a narrative was my creative choice.”
He further shared that he submitted his story to various platforms, including Disney Hotstar in 2022, where he received positive feedback in 2023. During this time, he also engaged with Baweja Studios regarding a film adaptation, with discussions ongoing for several months.
Kalyan expressed his discontent when Netflix announced ‘Gandhari’ in 2024, stating, “Seeing the title and concept reminded me of my old story. The name and idea I developed years ago are now part of a major project. My primary concern is that I have not been credited for this work. It’s not just about money; if my story is being used, I should at least receive credit, but it has gone to Kanika Dhillon. How is that fair?”
He attempted to reach out to Monica Shergill regarding the matter, given her prominent position at Netflix, but received no response. Subsequently, he filed a complaint with the Screen Writers Association (SWA), having registered his story in 2019.
Kalyan recounted the SWA’s response, stating, “They told me that after the film’s release, they would compare the script and story to check for any similarities. If my story is registered and a similar project emerges, it should be taken seriously.”
He claimed to have sent a legal notice to Monica Shergill in 2025, but has yet to receive a reply. Kalyan also sent a legal notice to Netflix, but according to him, the company has not responded even after more than 11 months.
He noted that the matter has not escalated to court, as pursuing a lengthy legal battle is not feasible for him.
Kalyan also expressed disappointment with Taapsee Pannu, stating, “I informed Taapsee about this issue. She is a responsible artist and should have paid attention to this matter, but I received no response from her either.”
On the other hand, the makers of ‘Gandhari’ have labeled Kalyan’s allegations as baseless. Kanika Dhillon’s production company, Katha Pictures, has asserted that the film is not a copy of anyone else’s concept. They maintain that ‘Gandhari’ is an original story developed by Kanika Dhillon, with the screenplay credited solely to her.
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