Ben Rekhi on directing Manoj Bajpayee and Divya Dutta in Last Man in Tower
Synopsis
Director Ben Rekhi says filming Manoj Bajpayee and Divya Dutta together in 'Last Man in Tower' was a rare editorial headache — too many great takes to choose from. Adapted from Aravind Adiga's novel and set against Mumbai's redevelopment churn, the film's emotional core rests on scenes of friendship and betrayal that Rekhi admits move him to tears even now.
Key Takeaways
Director Ben Rekhi described filming Manoj Bajpayee and Divya Dutta together as leaving him 'spoilt for choice' due to their spontaneous, reactive performances.
Rekhi highlighted a betrayal scene involving Bajpayee's character as one of the most emotionally devastating in the film. 'Last Man in Tower' is adapted from Aravind Adiga's novel of the same name.
The film is set against Mumbai's rapidly changing urban landscape and centres on a retired schoolteacher who refuses a developer's buyout offer.
The film is currently running in cinemas nationwide.
Director Ben Rekhi has opened up about the remarkable on-screen chemistry between Manoj Bajpayee and Divya Dutta in his latest film, 'Last Man in Tower', currently running in cinemas. Rekhi, speaking during the film's promotional rounds, described the experience of directing the two veterans as one of abundant riches — and a genuine editorial challenge.
A Director Spoilt for Choice
Rekhi said that watching Bajpayee and Dutta feed off each other's energy left him with an enviable problem: too many compelling takes to choose from. 'These two actors together — the other thing that great actors do is not outwardly performing, rather it's deeply listening to what the other actor is doing. Great acting is actually reacting. And these two, when you put them together, there's such a spontaneity that happens. Each take is different. They're looking at each other. They're picking up cues,' Rekhi said.
He emphasised that the spontaneity wasn't manufactured — it arose from an instinctive responsiveness between two actors who share a long professional history.
Emotional Depth and Heartbreaking Moments
Rekhi was particularly struck by the emotional weight the two performers brought to scenes involving friendship and betrayal. 'It's quite intense because they've known each other so long. And the friendships that are lost, the betrayals that happen, they feel very real, but they're also quite heartbreaking,' he said.
He singled out one scene involving Manoj Bajpayee's character being betrayed by a lifelong friend as especially powerful. 'What Manoj does in that scene, it kills me every time because you're seeing a lifelong friendship crumble before your eyes. I get emotional just thinking about it,' Rekhi added. 'It feels so relatable. We've all gone through that where we've lost friends that we love and feel betrayed. So it feels very honest.'
About Last Man in Tower
'Last Man in Tower' is adapted from the acclaimed novel of the same name by Aravind Adiga. Set against the backdrop of Mumbai's rapidly shifting urban landscape, the film centres on a retired schoolteacher and widower — played by Manoj Bajpayee — who lives in an ageing apartment complex. When a wealthy property developer offers residents a lucrative buyout to demolish the building and construct a luxury tower, most tenants are swayed by the payout. Bajpayee's character alone refuses to leave, making him the sole obstacle to the redevelopment project.
Divya Dutta stars alongside him in a key role, and together the two actors anchor the film's moral and emotional core.
What's Next for the Film
'Last Man in Tower' is currently playing in cinemas nationwide. Given the pedigree of its source material and the calibre of its lead performers, the film has drawn attention as one of the more substantive Hindi releases of the season. Whether it translates that critical goodwill into box-office momentum will become clearer in the days ahead.
Point of View
Mumbai-rooted storytelling can hold a multiplex audience. The early signals from Rekhi's promotional candour suggest the film is more emotionally ambitious than the market typically rewards.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Last Man in Tower' about?
'Last Man in Tower' is a film adaptation of Aravind Adiga's novel of the same name, set in Mumbai. It follows a retired schoolteacher and widower played by Manoj Bajpayee who refuses to vacate his ageing apartment complex despite a lucrative offer from a wealthy developer, making him the lone obstacle to a redevelopment project.
Who directed 'Last Man in Tower'?
The film was directed by Ben Rekhi, who spoke about the experience of working with Manoj Bajpayee and Divya Dutta during the film's promotional campaign.
What did Ben Rekhi say about Manoj Bajpayee and Divya Dutta's performances?
Rekhi said the two actors brought such spontaneous, reactive energy to every take that he was frequently spoilt for choice in the editing room. He described their instinct to listen and respond to each other — rather than perform outwardly — as the hallmark of truly great acting.
Is 'Last Man in Tower' based on a book?
Yes, the film is based on the novel 'Last Man in Tower' by Booker Prize-winning author Aravind Adiga, whose earlier work 'The White Tiger' was also adapted into a widely seen streaming film.
Where is 'Last Man in Tower' currently showing?
'Last Man in Tower' is currently playing in cinemas across India as of 13 October 2026.
