India, Aug. 26 -- Writer Kalyan Bandi has alleged that Taapsee Pannu-starrer Gandhari resembles a story he wrote and registered in 2019. However, the makers have denied the allegation, calling the film an original work by writer-producer Kanika Dhillon. Bandi, an IIT Madras alumnus and Central GST and Customs Inspector, told India Today that his story, also titled Gandhari, centred on a mother who becomes a fierce, almost goddess-like figure while trying to rescue her child from a child-trafficking racket. He said he contacted Monika Shergill, Netflix India's Vice President, Content, on LinkedIn in 2019. At that time, she was associated with streaming platform Voot, and he had sent her an eight-page story and two-page synopsis. He said the material was acknowledged but he was told it did not fit Voot's commissioning slate. Bandi said he registered the story with the Screenwriters Association and continued developing it. In 2023, he approached Baweja Studios, where discussions continued for five to six months, and separately submitted the concept to JioHotstar. After Netflix announced Gandhari, Bandi said the title and similarities with his story prompted him to question whether his concept had been used. "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 sent a legal notice to the makers in September 2025, seeking about Rs.40 lakh in compensation and credit. He said there was no response and he did not pursue the matter in court because of the cost of prolonged litigation. "I don't even want money. Just say thank you and acknowledge that it was my idea," Bandi said. "I'll be very happy if they can prove to me that this is not my story."HTC...