<p>Actor Taapsee Pannu's upcoming film Gandhari has landed in trouble just a week before its release. Days after the first look of the film was revealed, it has found itself in the middle of a copyright controversy.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Netflix thriller, set to premiere on September 3, is facing plagiarism allegations by a Mumbai-based writer who claims he had pitched a similar script to the makers. However, Kathha Pictures, the production house behind the film, has denied the accusations.</p><h3>Taapsee Pannu's Gandhari faces plagiarism row</h3><p>Mumbai-based writer Kalyan Bandi has reportedly accused the makers of plagiarising his story, which he had pitched to the makers in 2024. He accused that they had taken his idea and developing a new script under director Kanika Dhillon’s name.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Bandi, an IIT Madras alumnus who currently works as an Inspector with the Central GST and Customs department, claims he wrote and registered a story titled Gandhari in 2019. The story, according to him, revolves around a mother who takes on the avatar of a fierce goddess after getting caught up in a child-trafficking racket. Speaking to India Today, he revealed that he had reached out to Netflix Vice President Monika Shergill with the story back in 2019, when she was working with Voot. Back then, he shared an eight-page story and a two-page Gandhari synopsis.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/don-t-be-shy-alia-bhatt-backed-rom-com-to-arrive-on-prime-video-on-this-date-1787632367840">Don't Be Shy: Alia Bhatt-backed rom-com to arrive on Prime Video on THIS date</a><br>&nbsp;</p><p>Continuously raising questions over the movie, he had also taken legal action, and had sent the notice seeking &nbsp;financial compensation and credit. In September 2025. He has also shared that the script was not approved back then, saying that it didn't fit the company's commissioning slate. &nbsp;Bandi has also registered the story and synopsis with the Screenwriters Association and was working on the idea. In 2023, he also reached out to Baweja Studios, where the discussions happened on the movie. He has shared his pitch with JioHotstar. He has sought around Rs 40 lakh as compensation.&nbsp;</p><h3>Makers have denied the claims</h3><p>Soon after these allegations went viral, the production house released a statement saying that the movie is an original piece of work by the writer and director.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Denying the claims, the makers released a statement on Instagram, reading,''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.”</p><blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p></blockquote>

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DcavCJgs8eq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kathha Pictures (@kathhapictures)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/dethroned-miss-north-carolina-usa-brittany-boltinhouse-files-lawsuit-alleges-defamation-1787627301670">Dethroned Miss North Carolina USA files lawsuit, alleges defamation</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Saying that these allegations are false, they wrote, “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.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Concluding the statement, they urged media, and digital platforms to consider this news as false. “We request the media, digital platforms and members of the public to treat these allegations as what they are, namely unverified and false, and to refrain from publishing, circulating or repeating them as established fact.”</p><h3>What will Gandhari be about?</h3><p>Set against a fictitious town, Joypurra, Gandhari is a story of Bani, a mother whose devotion is tested at every turn as she's on a search for her daughter. &nbsp;The movie has an acclaimed ensemble cast featuring Ishwak Singh, Chhaya Kadam, Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht and Jatin Sarna.</p>

Written and produced by Kanika Dhillon and directed by Devashish Makhija, Gandhari is a story of a mother, Bani (Taapsee Pannu), who is on a search for her daughter. 

Actor Taapsee Pannu's upcoming film Gandhari has landed in trouble just a week before its release. Days after the first look of the film was revealed, it has found itself in the middle of a copyright controversy. The Netflix thriller, set to premiere on September 3, is facing plagiarism allegations by a Mumbai-based writer who claims he had pitched a similar script to the makers. However, Kathha Pictures, the production house behind the film, has denied the accusations. Taapsee Pannu's Gandhari faces plagiarism row Mumbai-based writer Kalyan Bandi has reportedly accused the makers of plagiarising his story, which he had pitched to the makers in 2024. He accused that they had taken his idea and developing a new script under director Kanika Dhillon’s name. Bandi, an IIT Madras alumnus who currently works as an Inspector with the Central GST and Customs department, claims he wrote and registered a story titled Gandhari in 2019. The story, according to him, revolves around a mother who takes on the avatar of a fierce goddess after getting caught up in a child-trafficking racket. Speaking to India Today, he revealed that he had reached out to Netflix Vice President Monika Shergill with the story back in 2019, when she was working with Voot. Back then, he shared an eight-page story and a two-page Gandhari synopsis. Also read: Don't Be Shy: Alia Bhatt-backed rom-com to arrive on Prime Video on THIS date Continuously raising questions over the movie, he had also taken legal action, and had sent the notice seeking financial compensation and credit. In September 2025. He has also shared that the script was not approved back then, saying that it didn't fit the company's commissioning slate. Bandi has also registered the story and synopsis with the Screenwriters Association and was working on the idea. In 2023, he also reached out to Baweja Studios, where the discussions happened on the movie. He has shared his pitch with JioHotstar. He has sought around Rs 40 lakh as compensation. Makers have denied the claims Soon after these allegations went viral, the production house released a statement saying that the movie is an original piece of work by the writer and director. Denying the claims, the makers released a statement on Instagram, reading,''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.”

<p>Written and produced by Kanika Dhillon and directed by Devashish Makhija, Gandhari is a story of a mother, Bani (Taapsee Pannu), who is on a search for her daughter.&nbsp;</p>

Taapsee Pannu's Gandhari faces plagiarism row: Writer claims film copied his 2019 script, seeks Rs 40 lakh in compensation

<p>In recent months, conversations about the rising cost of actors' entourages in Bollywood have intensified, and several filmmakers have often raised concerns about how large teams of stars are increasing project budgets.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/-men-are-the-biggest-victims-ravi-mohan-addresses-criticism-over-marital-life-1773222318229"><strong>'Men are the biggest victims': Ravi Mohan addresses criticism over marital life</strong></a></p><h2>Taapsee Pannu on the actors' huge entourage</h2><p>Now, Taapsee Pannu has addressed the issue and shared her perspective. During an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Pannu spoke about the expenses associated with actors’ teams. "I was seeing interviews and a couple of producers were complaining about how stars have so much cost attached to them, and they have such a huge entourage cost," she said. "This was such a heated discussion. They said that stars have 4-5 people following them everywhere."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/ek-din-trailer-junaid-khan-and-sai-pallavi-feature-in-a-magical-love-story-1773221426761"><strong>Ek Din trailer: Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi feature in a magical love story</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>However, for her, the experience has been different, as not every actor brings a lot of people with them. Pannu revealed that she has worked with Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Amitabh Bachchan, and in her experience, not all actors maintain large entourages. "Firstly, it is not the case with every star. I have worked with the industry’s two biggest stars, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Amitabh Bachchan, also for that matter, but when I was working with Shah Rukh sir, there weren’t as many people around him," she shared. "It’s a myth that all actors have a huge entourage."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/dhurandhar-2-advance-booking-sets-new-benchmark-2-37-323-tickets-sold-rs-13-75-crore-earned-1773216963172"><strong>Dhurandhar 2 advance booking: 2,37,323 tickets sold, Rs 13,75 crore earned</strong></a></p><h2>Pannu questions producers' complaints</h2><p>Taapsee also asked producers who criticise actors’ entourage costs but continue to work with them. "Yes, some actors do have huge entourages, but my question is that the people who are giving these interviews and producers who have a problem with that, they are the ones who are actually giving work to those stars and actors who have this kind of entourage," she said." "These actors are called delusional for demanding so much in this economy, but then these producers are only giving them this."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ajith-kumar-returns-to-india-safely-after-being-stuck-in-dubai-amid-middle-east-crises-1773213643213"><strong>Ajith Kumar returns to India after being stuck in Dubai amid Middle East crisis</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>According to the actor, "Either you change it or don’t complain about it. From the outside, what do I believe, what they are saying in interviews or what they are doing in real life?"</p><h2>What's the controversy</h2><p>The buzz about entourage expenses is not something new. Several filmmakers, including Anurag Kashyap, Karan Johar, and Shoojit Sircar, have previously spoken about how large teams attached to actors lead to extra production costs. Actors such as Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, and Jackie Shroff have also discussed the issue in the past.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Taapsee Pannu recently spoke about the conversations about the rising cost of actors' entourages in Bollywood. She explains that not every actor brings a lot of people with them.

In recent months, conversations about the rising cost of actors' entourages in Bollywood have intensified, and several filmmakers have often raised concerns about how large teams of stars are increasing project budgets. Also Read: 'Men are the biggest victims': Ravi Mohan addresses criticism over marital life Taapsee Pannu on the actors' huge entourage Now, Taapsee Pannu has addressed the issue and shared her perspective. During an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Pannu spoke about the expenses associated with actors’ teams. "I was seeing interviews and a couple of producers were complaining about how stars have so much cost attached to them, and they have such a huge entourage cost," she said. "This was such a heated discussion. They said that stars have 4-5 people following them everywhere." Also Read: Ek Din trailer: Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi feature in a magical love story However, for her, the experience has been different, as not every actor brings a lot of people with them. Pannu revealed that she has worked with Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Amitabh Bachchan, and in her experience, not all actors maintain large entourages. "Firstly, it is not the case with every star. I have worked with the industry’s two biggest stars, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Amitabh Bachchan, also for that matter, but when I was working with Shah Rukh sir, there weren’t as many people around him," she shared. "It’s a myth that all actors have a huge entourage." Also Read: Dhurandhar 2 advance booking: 2,37,323 tickets sold, Rs 13,75 crore earned Pannu questions producers' complaints Taapsee also asked producers who criticise actors’ entourage costs but continue to work with them. "Yes, some actors do have huge entourages, but my question is that the people who are giving these interviews and producers who have a problem with that, they are the ones who are actually giving work to those stars and actors who have this kind of entourage," she said." "These actors are called delusional for demanding so much in this economy, but then these producers are only giving them this." Also Read: Ajith Kumar returns to India after being stuck in Dubai amid Middle East crisis According to the actor, "Either you change it or don’t complain about it. From the outside, what do I believe, what they are saying in interviews or what they are doing in real life?" What's the controversy The buzz about entourage expenses is not something new. Several filmmakers, including Anurag Kashyap, Karan Johar, and Shoojit Sircar, have previously spoken about how large teams attached to actors lead to extra production costs. Actors such as Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, and Jackie Shroff have also discussed the issue in the past.

<p>Taapsee Pannu recently spoke about the conversations about the rising cost of actors' entourages in Bollywood. She explains that not every actor brings a lot of people with them.</p>

Do Bollywood stars travel with big entourages? Taapsee Pannu shares experience with Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan

<p>Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is back with another socially charged film, <i>Assi</i>, featuring Taapsee Pannu in the lead. The hard-hitting film marks the third collaboration between the director and the actor after <i>Mulk </i>and <i>Thappad</i>. Turning the audience's attention once again towards sexual violence against women and how the system tries to interrupt the justice, the courtroom drama and crime thriller is set in Delhi. &nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The title refers to the total number of rapes reported daily in India, and the makers ensure to remind the viewers about the same every twenty minutes in the film. The intent is clear: provoke, unsettle, and spark conversation, but does <i>Assi </i>achieve the goal? Let’s find out.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/assi-trailer-out-taapsee-pannu-plays-a-fierce-lawyer-in-anubhav-sinha-s-courtroom-drama-1770214058009"><strong>Assi trailer out! Taapsee Pannu plays a fierce lawyer in Anubhav Sinha's courtroom drama</strong></a></p><h2>About Assi’s plot</h2><p>The story follows a Malayali school teacher, Parima (Kani Kusruti), who lives in Delhi with her Haryanvi husband Vinay (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) and their son Dhruv. Their normal lives take a brutal turn when, one night while returning from her school, Parima is abducted and sexually assaulted in a moving car by a group of men.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The perpetrators- Sameer, Harry, and others assault her one by one and record the crime, and later dump her half dead near railway tracks. They also try to destroy the evidence by cleaning the car, burning clothes, and disposing of phones. On the other hand, Parima suffers severe physical injuries and emotional trauma.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>When the investigation begins, several inconsistencies come up as a hurdle in front of the court, including DNA complications and other loopholes in the case. The accused claim they are innocent, and on the night of the crime, they were headed to a wedding and their car was stolen. &nbsp;Eventually, the court grants them bail.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/birthday-special-a-look-at-taapsee-pannus-most-remarkable-on-screen-performances-502533"><strong>Birthday special: A look at Taapsee Pannu's most remarkable on-screen performances</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Then comes Raavi (Taapsee Pannu), a fierce lawyer who takes up the case to provide justice to Parima, while dealing with her own emotions after losing someone close in a hit-and-run. Raavi’s grief also connects her to Kartik (Kumud Mishra), whose narrative leads to themes of personal loss and vigilante rage.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/-not-career-strategy-but-conviction-anubhav-sinha-on-why-taapsee-pannu-makes-assi-personal-1771520846601"><strong>‘Not career strategy, but conviction’: Anubhav Sinha on why Taapsee Pannu makes Assi personal</strong></a></p><h2>What works and what doesn’t</h2><p>Speaking about the performances, Kani Kusruti rules the screen as Parima. Her silence, physical vulnerability, and dialogue hit hard. Additionally, she conveys trauma with unsettling realism without melodrama. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub playing her husband is no less. He silently supports his wife, and his scenes with their son Dhruv also carry raw emotional weight.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The lead, Taapsee Pannu, shows emotions along with ferocity as Raavi. She shines particularly in the second half during courtroom confrontations. Her final monologue, addressing an accused who assaulted his own wife, is gripping-even if a little dramatic.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Other supporting actors also perform well. Manoj Pahwa portrays the father of an accused with unsettling realism, while Revathy and smaller roles, including police officers and morally grey characters, feel layered.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/february-2026-releases-from-theatres-to-ott-o-romeo-the-bluff-bridgerton-s4-assi-and-more-1770363621206"><strong>February 2026 watchlist: New theatres and OTT releases- from O'Romeo to The Bluff and more</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The second half of the film, including courtroom exchanges, moral dilemmas, and emotional scenes, is gripping. Some thought-provoking dialogues land hard, such as justifications about the crime from the accused.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The film doesn’t hold back in portraying how a sexual assault is seen in society, including victim-blaming and institutional failures, without sensationalising the topic.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>While the performances are top-notch, the film’s graphics feel too much as the assault scene is a little overwhelming and depicts excruciating detail. Another point that feels unnecessary is that the film presents multiple threads, such as vigilante killings and Kartik’s emotional arc. While it catches attention individually, overall, the story feels fragmented. While Raavi and Kartik’s characters do hold significance, they needed a little more attention.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Some cameo appearances from popular actors, including Naseeruddin Shah, feel underutilized, and some subplots are left incomplete. Pannu’s final monologue, as well, feels a little diverted from the survivor’s journey, and some moments, such as including children in the courtroom, feel engineered rather than organic.</p><h2>What’s the final verdict?</h2><p><i>Assi </i>brings out a harrowing and unsettling story that is gripping for sure. It is not an easy watch, and the performances of the actors are overall on point. However, while trying to address too many issues, including justice, trauma, parenting, and vigilantism, Anubhav Sinha’s film diverts from its original intention. But despite its flaws, <i>Assi </i>has the potential to keep the viewers stuck to their seats till the end.</p>

Directed by Anubhav Sinha, Assi is a gripping thriller that sparks conversation about sexual violence against women and the challenges that block the attempt to provide justice to the victims. Led by Taapsee Pannu, the film showcases unsettling realism.

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is back with another socially charged film, Assi, featuring Taapsee Pannu in the lead. The hard-hitting film marks the third collaboration between the director and the actor after Mulk and Thappad. Turning the audience's attention once again towards sexual violence against women and how the system tries to interrupt the justice, the courtroom drama and crime thriller is set in Delhi. The title refers to the total number of rapes reported daily in India, and the makers ensure to remind the viewers about the same every twenty minutes in the film. The intent is clear: provoke, unsettle, and spark conversation, but does Assi achieve the goal? Let’s find out. Also Read: Assi trailer out! Taapsee Pannu plays a fierce lawyer in Anubhav Sinha's courtroom drama About Assi’s plot The story follows a Malayali school teacher, Parima (Kani Kusruti), who lives in Delhi with her Haryanvi husband Vinay (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) and their son Dhruv. Their normal lives take a brutal turn when, one night while returning from her school, Parima is abducted and sexually assaulted in a moving car by a group of men. The perpetrators- Sameer, Harry, and others assault her one by one and record the crime, and later dump her half dead near railway tracks. They also try to destroy the evidence by cleaning the car, burning clothes, and disposing of phones. On the other hand, Parima suffers severe physical injuries and emotional trauma. When the investigation begins, several inconsistencies come up as a hurdle in front of the court, including DNA complications and other loopholes in the case. The accused claim they are innocent, and on the night of the crime, they were headed to a wedding and their car was stolen. Eventually, the court grants them bail. Also Read: Birthday special: A look at Taapsee Pannu's most remarkable on-screen performances Then comes Raavi (Taapsee Pannu), a fierce lawyer who takes up the case to provide justice to Parima, while dealing with her own emotions after losing someone close in a hit-and-run. Raavi’s grief also connects her to Kartik (Kumud Mishra), whose narrative leads to themes of personal loss and vigilante rage. Also Read: ‘Not career strategy, but conviction’: Anubhav Sinha on why Taapsee Pannu makes Assi personal What works and what doesn’t Speaking about the performances, Kani Kusruti rules the screen as Parima. Her silence, physical vulnerability, and dialogue hit hard. Additionally, she conveys trauma with unsettling realism without melodrama. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub playing her husband is no less. He silently supports his wife, and his scenes with their son Dhruv also carry raw emotional weight. The lead, Taapsee Pannu, shows emotions along with ferocity as Raavi. She shines particularly in the second half during courtroom confrontations. Her final monologue, addressing an accused who assaulted his own wife, is gripping-even if a little dramatic. Other supporting actors also perform well. Manoj Pahwa portrays the father of an accused with unsettling realism, while Revathy and smaller roles, including police officers and morally grey characters, feel layered. Also Read: February 2026 watchlist: New theatres and OTT releases- from O'Romeo to The Bluff and more The second half of the film, including courtroom exchanges, moral dilemmas, and emotional scenes, is gripping. Some thought-provoking dialogues land hard, such as justifications about the crime from the accused. The film doesn’t hold back in portraying how a sexual assault is seen in society, including victim-blaming and institutional failures, without sensationalising the topic. While the performances are top-notch, the film’s graphics feel too much as the assault scene is a little overwhelming and depicts excruciating detail. Another point that feels unnecessary is that the film presents multiple threads, such as vigilante killings and Kartik’s emotional arc. While it catches attention individually, overall, the story feels fragmented. While Raavi and Kartik’s characters do hold significance, they needed a little more attention. Some cameo appearances from popular actors, including Naseeruddin Shah, feel underutilized, and some subplots are left incomplete. Pannu’s final monologue, as well, feels a little diverted from the survivor’s journey, and some moments, such as including children in the courtroom, feel engineered rather than organic. What’s the final verdict? Assi brings out a harrowing and unsettling story that is gripping for sure. It is not an easy watch, and the performances of the actors are overall on point. However, while trying to address too many issues, including justice, trauma, parenting, and vigilantism, Anubhav Sinha’s film diverts from its original intention. But despite its flaws, Assi has the potential to keep the viewers stuck to their seats till the end.

<p>Directed by Anubhav Sinha, Assi is a gripping thriller that sparks conversation about sexual violence against women and the challenges that block the attempt to provide justice to the victims. Led by Taapsee Pannu, the film showcases unsettling realism.</p>

Assi review: Anubhav Sinha delivers unsettling realism with Kani Kusruti, Taapsee Pannu

From courtroom dramas to psychological thrillers and action-packed roles, Taapsee Pannu’s filmography is as diverse as it is daring. She doesn’t follow trends, she sets them. And that’s what makes her truly irreplaceable.

<p>From courtroom dramas to psychological thrillers and action-packed roles, Taapsee Pannu’s filmography is as diverse as it is daring. She doesn’t follow trends, she sets them. And that’s what makes her truly irreplaceable.</p>

Birthday Special: From Naam Shabana to Haseen Dilruba , 7 performances that prove Taapsee Pannu is truly irreplaceable

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Assi review: Anubhav Sinha delivers unsettling realism with Taapsee Pannu

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