National Award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee's much-anticipated film, formerly titled 'Ghooskor Pandat', has been rechristened 'Gajab Raat' and is set to premiere on Netflix on 23 October. The thriller, directed by Ritesh Shah and produced by Neeraj Pandey's Friday Film Works, unfolds over a single night and follows a cop torn between personal gain and doing what he believes is right.

What 'Gajab Raat' Is About

The film centres on a police officer whose single decision over the course of one night sets off a chain of events with far-reaching consequences. The narrative leans into moral ambiguity — characters' motivations, according to the makers, only reveal themselves gradually as the night progresses. The tight, single-night structure is designed to build sustained urgency and mounting stakes.

What Manoj Bajpayee Said

Bajpayee, who has long been associated with morally complex roles, expressed enthusiasm about the project. Manoj Bajpayee said: 'My association with Netflix has been an exciting journey, and Gajab Raat is another project I'm delighted to be a part of. 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.'

He added: 'What makes the story particularly compelling is how the characters' motivations gradually reveal themselves as the night unfolds.' Bajpayee also noted his excitement about reuniting with Neeraj Pandey after nearly a decade: 'Reuniting with Neeraj after so long was a wonderful experience, and seeing Ritesh make the transition from a writer, whose work I have admired, to a director was equally exciting.'

The Creative Team Behind the Film

For creator and producer Neeraj Pandey, Gajab Raat continues a prolific partnership with Netflix that includes the Khakee series, Sikandar Ka Muqaddar, and Taskaree. The film also marks a significant milestone for Ritesh Shah, best known as a writer, who makes his directorial debut with this project. Pandey said: 'I have always believed that an engaging story should do more than keep you guessing; it should also leave you thinking. Gajab Raat is a thriller where the choices that people make push them to a point where there are no easy answers.'

Debut director Ritesh 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. With the story unfolding over a single night, we had the opportunity to build a sense of urgency and keep raising the stakes as events unfold.'

Full Cast

Alongside Bajpayee, the film features Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, Divya Dutta, Kiku Sharda, and Nushrratt Bharuccha — a cast that spans drama, comedy, and thriller genres. Gajab Raat streams on Netflix from 23 October.