‘Gandhari’ copyright row explained: Why Taapsee Pannu’s Netflix film is facing allegations

Taapsee Pannu’s upcoming Netflix thriller ‘Gandhari’ has found itself at the centre of a copyright dispute just days before its scheduled premiere. Writer Kalyan Bandi has alleged that the film bears similarities to a story he wrote and registered in 2019, while the film’s makers have firmly rejected the claim and said ‘Gandhari’ is an original work by writer-producer Kanika Dhillon.

The controversy comes shortly after Netflix announced that the film will premiere on September 3. Directed by Devashish Makhija, ‘Gandhari’ stars Taapsee as a mother caught up in a dangerous fight to protect her child.

What Kalyan Bandi claims about his story

Bandi, an IIT Madras alumnus who works as an Inspector with the Central GST and Customs department, says he wrote a story titled ‘Gandhari’ in 2019.

According to his account, the story followed a mother who takes on a fierce, almost goddess-like persona while trying to rescue her child from a child-trafficking network. He says he registered the story with the Screenwriters Association and continued working on the idea.

Bandi also claims that he approached Monika Shergill in 2019, when she was associated with Voot and before she became a Vice President at Netflix. He says he contacted her through LinkedIn and later sent her an eight-page story along with a two-page synopsis.

According to Bandi, the material was acknowledged, but he was eventually told that the concept did not fit the company's commissioning plans at that point.

He says he continued pitching the idea elsewhere. In 2023, he approached Baweja Studios, where he claims discussions continued for several months. He also says he submitted the concept to JioHotstar.

Why the Netflix announcement raised questions

Bandi says the situation changed after Netflix announced ‘Gandhari’ in 2025.

The title immediately caught his attention, he claims, and he began comparing the announced project with the story he had developed years earlier. For him, the use of the title was particularly significant because of its connection to his own concept.

“Only I can connect the title to the concept because it was my creativity. How can it be credited to Kanika Dhillon?” he said.

Bandi also claims that the announcement affected his discussions with production houses and resulted in professional and financial setbacks.

He sent a legal notice seeking ₹40 lakh

In September 2025, Bandi says he sent a legal notice seeking around ₹40 lakh in compensation, as well as credit for his work. However, he maintains that financial compensation was not what he really wanted.

“I don’t even want money. Just say thank you and acknowledge that it was my idea. I’ll be very happy if they can prove to me that this is not my story,” he said.

According to Bandi, he did not receive a response to the legal notice and the matter never reached court.

He says pursuing the case would have involved considerable legal expenses and a lengthy process, something he could not afford while working as a government employee. He eventually chose not to take the matter further.

Gandhari makers reject the allegations

Kanika Dhillon’s production house, Kathha Pictures, has strongly denied Bandi’s claims.

In a statement shared after the allegations surfaced, the production house said:

“Our attention has been drawn to allegations circulating on social media and in certain publications to the effect that our forthcoming film Gandhari copies another person's concept and uses that person's title. These allegations are false, and we deny them unequivocally. Gandhari is an original work, written and produced by Ms. Kanika Dhillon and developed by Kathha Pictures. Its story and screenplay are Ms. Dhillon's own work.”

The makers also asked the media and public not to present the allegations as established facts, describing them as unverified and false.

As of now, the dispute remains a set of competing claims. No court has ruled on the allegation.

Set in the fictional town of Joypurra, ‘Gandhari’ follows Bani, a mother whose determination to protect her child pushes her into an increasingly dangerous situation.

The film has been described as a story built around a mother's faith, resilience and courage, with Taapsee taking on what has been presented as one of her more physically demanding roles. The thriller combines action with the emotional journey of a woman forced to confront circumstances far beyond her control.

Devashish Makhija directs the film, while Kanika Dhillon has written and produced it. The cast also includes Ishwak Singh, Chhaya Kadam, Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht and Jatin Sarna.

The film marks Taapsee and Dhillon's fourth collaboration, following ‘Manmarziyaan’, ‘Haseen Dillruba’ and ‘Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba’.

Despite the controversy surrounding its story, ‘Gandhari’ remains scheduled to premiere on Netflix on September 3.