Taapsee Pannu’s ‘Gandhari’ faces copyright controversy before release as writer Kalyan Bandi claims film mirrors his 2019 story

Taapsee Pannu’s Netflix film ‘Gandhari’ is embroiled in a copyright dispute before its September 3 release. Writer Kalyan Bandi, who wrote a 2019 story titled Gandhari about a mother fighting child trafficking, claims the film mirrors his work. Bandi, a GST Inspector, approached Netflix’s former Voot associate Monika Shergill with his story in 2019 but was told it didn’t fit their plans. He later registered it with the Screenwriters Association and pursued discussions with Baweja Studios and JioHotstar, but no deal materialized. Bandi noticed Netflix’s announcement of ‘Gandhari’ in 2025 and compared it to his story, alleging similarities in title and premise. He sent a legal notice demanding ₹40 lakh in compensation and recognition, though he avoided litigation due to financial constraints. Kathha Pictures, the production house behind ‘Gandhari,’ denies plagiarism, stating the film is an original work by Kanika Dhillon. The film follows Bani, a mother battling trafficking, with Taapsee Pannu in a physically demanding role. Directed by Devashish Makhija, it reunites Pannu and Dhillon after collaborations on ‘Manmarziyaan’ and ‘Haseen Dillruba’.