Gajab Raat on Netflix: Manoj Bajpayee’s crime thriller gets mixed reviews
Manoj Bajpayee's one-night crime thriller Gajab Raat is streaming on Netflix, and critics rate it between 2 and 2.5 out of 5.
Gajab Raat, a crime thriller headlined by Manoj Bajpayee, began streaming on Netflix on 23 October 2026. The film, earlier titled Ghooskhor Pandat, has drawn mixed notices, with critics broadly agreeing that Bajpayee’s performance is its main draw.
What the film is about
Netflix describes it as a suspense thriller set over a single night, in which a cop must choose between personal gain and doing what he believes is right. Bajpayee plays a corrupt police officer; per Bollywood Hungama and Flickonclick, a seriously injured young woman is thrown from a moving vehicle in Delhi and he lands the case. Central agencies such as the CBI and NIA then get involved, and Flickonclick says the trail leads to a vaccine scam involving powerful people.
The cast includes Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, Divya Dutta, Kiku Sharda and Nushrratt Bharuccha, with Shraddha Das also listed by The Week. Ritesh Shah makes his directorial debut. Neeraj Pandey’s Friday Filmworks produces and Pandey is credited as creator, according to Netflix. It is a direct-to-streaming release.
The title controversy
The original name drew objections that it linked a community to corruption. The Week reports that in February 2026 Uttar Pradesh Police registered an FIR against the filmmakers at Hazratganj station in Lucknow. It adds that the Supreme Court observed free speech does not permit denigrating a section of society, after which Pandey filed an affidavit withdrawing the title and the film was renamed. Bajpayee said the film does not represent any caste, religion or community, and backed the change.
What critics say
- Bollywood Hungama (2.5/5): calls it a decent thriller that falters in the second half. It praises the gripping opening, the ensemble and Bajpayee, but finds the later turns unconvincing and the climax convenient.
- Flickonclick (2.5/5): calls it watchable but forgettable. It credits Bajpayee with holding the film together, but says the protagonist’s moral turn feels unearned and the writing is predictable.
- NewsBytes (2/5): finds the premise promising but the execution bland, citing an uneven tone, weak dialogue and an underused cast despite the experienced actors.
Why it matters
The film marks another Bajpayee-Pandey collaboration on Netflix, but the reviews suggest it is best suited to viewers keen on its lead actor and genre rather than a standout of the year.
Sources
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