Cinema VinesIn a surprising turn of events, writer Kalyan Bandi has filed a copyright claim against the upcoming Netflix thriller Gandhari, starring Taapsee Pannu, alleging that the film’s premise is almost identical to a story he penned and registered in 2019. The dispute surfaced only days before the film’s September 3 release, sparking a debate over originality and intellectual property in the Indian film industry.
Bandi, an IIT Madras graduate who now serves as an Inspector in the Central GST and Customs department, says he first drafted a story titled Gandhari in 2019. The narrative revolves around a mother who transforms into a fierce, almost goddess-like figure in her quest to rescue her child from a child‑trafficking ring. He claims to have pitched the concept to Monika Shergill, then a Voot employee and now a Vice President at Netflix, via LinkedIn. After sharing an eight‑page manuscript and a two‑page synopsis, Bandi reports that the idea was acknowledged but ultimately rejected because it did not fit the company’s commissioning slate at the time.
Following the initial rejection, Bandi registered the story with the Screenwriters Association and continued refining it. In 2023, he approached Baweja Studios, where discussions reportedly persisted for several months, and also submitted the concept to JioHotstar. He asserts that the controversy began when Netflix announced the film in 2025, noting that the title and plot elements closely mirror his earlier work. “Only I can connect the title to the concept because it was my creativity,” Bandi said, adding that the announcement disrupted his ongoing negotiations with production houses and caused significant professional and financial setbacks.
In September 2025, Bandi sent a legal notice to the makers, seeking approximately ₹40 lakh in compensation and formal credit for his story. He clarified that monetary gain was not his primary objective; instead, he demanded recognition of his idea. “I don’t even want money. Just say thank you and acknowledge that it was my idea,” he stated. However, the notice received no response, and the matter has not yet proceeded to court. Bandi warned that pursuing the case would entail a costly and prolonged legal battle.
The film’s producers have denied the allegations, insisting that Gandhari is an original story written by Kanika Dhillon. They maintain that the title and plot were conceived independently and that no infringement has occurred. As the release date approaches, the dispute remains unresolved, leaving audiences and industry observers alike to wonder whether the film’s creative origins will ultimately be clarified.
