Manoj Bajpayee is set to return to the digital screen with ‘Gajab Raat’, an upcoming Hindi thriller backed by filmmaker Neeraj Pandey. Directed by Ritesh Shah, the film unfolds over a single night filled with danger, moral dilemmas and unexpected turns. It follows a corrupt police officer whose encounter with a severely injured girl, allegedly abandoned from a moving car in Delhi, draws him into a complex investigation with far-reaching consequences.
‘Gajab Raat’ OTT release date: When and where to watch
‘Gajab Raat’ will premiere on Netflix on October 23, 2026. The film stars Manoj Bajpayee alongside Nushrratt Bharuccha, Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, Divya Dutta and Kiku Sharda, with Shraddha Das also featuring in the ensemble.Produced by Neeraj Pandey’s Friday Film Works, the thriller centres on a police officer caught between personal gain and doing what he believes is right. What begins with a disturbing discovery develops into a chain of events that tests the characters’ loyalties and forces them to confront difficult choices.The film’s single-night setting adds urgency to the narrative, as the investigation grows more complicated and the motivations of those involved gradually come to light.
Manoj Bajpayee on reuniting with Neeraj Pandey
Manoj Bajpayee and Neeraj Pandey are reuniting for Gajab Raat after previously working together on the 2018 spy thriller Aiyaary. Their latest collaboration brings them together for a suspense-driven story built around a morally conflicted police officer.Speaking to Netflix’s Tudum, Bajpayee said he was drawn to the film because of its complex character and the questions it raises about accountability. He said, “I have always been drawn to characters who are not easy to define, and this film gave me the opportunity to inhabit a world filled with suspense, moral dilemmas and questions of accountability.”The actor also spoke about reuniting with Pandey after a long gap and watching Ritesh Shah transition from screenwriter to director. According to Bajpayee, the characters’ motivations gradually emerge as the night unfolds, adding layers to the suspense.Pandey, meanwhile, described the film as a story that aims to keep audiences guessing while also prompting them to reflect on the choices people make. He said the moral dilemmas are as important to the narrative as the events that take place over the course of the night.
Ritesh Shah makes his directorial debut with ‘Gajab Raat’
‘Gajab Raat’ marks Ritesh Shah’s directorial debut. Known for his work as a screenwriter, Shah takes charge of a thriller that relies on a tightly contained timeline to build tension and keep viewers guessing.Speaking to Tudum, Shah said, “I’ve always loved thrillers that pull you into a situation and keep you guessing what happens next, and that was the starting point for Gajab Raat.”He explained that setting the story over a single night gave the filmmakers an opportunity to create urgency and steadily raise the stakes. Shah also described making his directorial debut with a Netflix project backed by Neeraj Pandey as an enriching experience.
Manoj Bajpayee and Neeraj Pandey’s previous collaboration
Before ‘Gajab Raat’, Manoj Bajpayee and Neeraj Pandey worked together on ‘Aiyaary’, the 2018 Hindi spy thriller directed by Pandey. The film featured Sidharth Malhotra and Rakul Preet Singh in the lead roles, alongside Pooja Chopra, Adil Hussain, Kumud Mishra and Naseeruddin Shah.
About ‘Gajab Raat’s title row
‘Gajab Raat’ was originally titled as ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’. The controversy over its title erupted following Netflix’s announcement of a Manoj Bajpayee-starrer thriller directed by Neeraj Pandey, where the title—combining ghooskhor (bribe-taker) with pandat/pandit—drew sharp backlash from Brahmin communities, legal notices, and an FIR in Uttar Pradesh for hurting religious sentiments and defaming a specific caste. Protesters and legal petitions argued that associating a community title with corruption promoted derogatory stereotyping. In response, lead actor Manoj Bajpayee and the filmmakers clarified that the term referred solely to a police officer character’s departmental nickname rather than an entire community; however, to respect public sentiments and resolve pending court petitions, the makers voluntarily dropped the controversial title and removed all initial promotional materials.
