After the announcement, the upcoming film has run into a copyright controversy just days before its September 3 release. Writer Kalyan Bandi claims the film is similar to a story he wrote and registered back in 2019. The makers, however, have denied the allegation, stating that the film is an original story written by Kanika Dhillon .
After Assi earlier this year, Taapsee Pannu is returning with Netflix thriller Gandhari .
How can it be credited to Kanika Dhillon?” Kalyan said the controversy began after Netflix announced Gandhari in 2025. Because it was my creativity, speaking about the title, he said, “Only I can connect the title to the concept.
He said the similarities, particularly the title, made him question whether his concept had been used.
The title caught his attention, and he claimed he then started comparing the upcoming film with the story he had written several years earlier.
About the film
The film is set to premiere on Netflix on September 3. 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 have also urged the media and public to refrain from presenting the allegations as verified, reiterating that the film has been independently developed by Dhillon and Kathha Pictures. Gandhari also marks Taapsee and Kanika Dhillon’s fourth collaboration after Manmarziyaan, Haseen Dillruba and Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba.
In its official statement, 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.
He added that there was no response to his legal notice and the matter never went to court. He eventually decided not to pursue the matter further.
He said taking the case forward would have meant spending a considerable amount of money on a lengthy legal battle, something he could not afford as a government employee.
