October 23, 2026: Manoj Bajpayee is in terrific form in Gajab Raat, a crime thriller that mixes corruption, political intrigue, dark humour and a steadily unfolding conspiracy into an entertaining OTT watch. Directed by Ritesh Shah and co-written by Neeraj Pandey, the film thrives on its colourful characters, shifting loyalties and the sheer pleasure of watching a seasoned actor inhabit a man who knows how to bend every rule in the book.
Ajay Nirvet, played by Bajpayee, is a police sub-inspector who has spent 20 years turning his uniform into a convenient source of income. For him, a raid is an opportunity to collect a bribe, authority is a bargaining chip, and honesty is hardly a professional requirement. He is shameless, street-smart and wonderfully adept at navigating a system where everyone seems to have an agenda. Yet there is something irresistibly watchable about this morally compromised cop, largely because Bajpayee knows exactly how to make his character’s crooked ways entertaining without losing sight of the man underneath.
His performance is the film’s biggest draw. Bajpayee brings a mischievous twinkle, impeccable comic timing and an easy confidence to Ajay, making even routine exchanges feel alive. His repeated, deferential-sounding “sir” becomes a performance in itself, allowing him to flatter, provoke and outmanoeuvre his superiors with remarkable ease. He plays corruption with a disarming casualness, as though bending the rules were simply another skill acquired over years on the job. It is a deliciously engaging performance that keeps the film humming even when the plot takes a breather.
The action begins when a badly injured young woman falls out of a moving car near Connaught Place, drawing Ajay into a case that quickly becomes much bigger than it first appears. A CBI officer stakes a claim to the investigation, another agency enters the picture, and the mystery surrounding the woman opens the door to a web of political connections, dangerous interests and a vaccine scam involving powerful people.
The film gets off the blocks quickly, and its early stretches have the urgency of a good crime thriller. Nobody seems to be telling the whole truth, every new arrival brings another possibility, and Ajay finds himself navigating a situation in which his usual tricks may not be enough. The screenplay keeps the pieces moving, while the editing gives the investigation a brisk rhythm that suits the OTT format. There is always another question to pursue, another character to suspect or another revelation waiting around the corner.
Gajab Raat Review: Manoj Bajpayee’s Crooked Cop Makes This Crime Thriller a Fun OTT Watch
What makes Gajab Raat particularly enjoyable is its ability to move between crime, comedy and political intrigue without taking itself too seriously. The humour often comes from Ajay’s sheer audacity and his talent for surviving situations that would leave a more honest officer struggling. His exchanges with Rajiv Gupta are especially entertaining, while his interactions with the people around him reveal the absurdities of a system in which authority and accountability rarely travel together.
Beneath the entertainment lies a familiar but relevant idea: corruption rarely exists in isolation. The policeman collecting small-time bribes and the influential figures profiting from a much larger scam operate at different levels, but both belong to a world where public responsibility is too easily sacrificed for personal gain. As Ajay begins to confront the consequences of the case, the film introduces the possibility that even a man who has spent years looking the other way might eventually be forced to look at himself.
This moral dimension gives the story an added layer, even as the mystery remains its driving force. Ajay’s journey from habitual opportunist towards a more questioning version of himself provides Bajpayee with an opportunity to reveal the character’s vulnerabilities beneath the swagger. The actor handles these shifts with characteristic conviction, ensuring that Ajay remains engaging whether he is manipulating a situation for personal gain or beginning to recognise that some things cannot simply be negotiated away.
The supporting cast adds to the film’s lively atmosphere. Divya Dutta brings an imposing presence to her politician, while Akshay Oberoi and Saqib Saleem contribute to the uncertainty surrounding the investigation. Nushrratt Bharuccha brings a lighter touch to Ajay’s personal world, and the ensemble helps create the sense of a city full of people with secrets, ambitions and competing interests.
Ultimately, Gajab Raat understands the pleasure of a good OTT crime drama: a compelling central character, a mystery that keeps unfolding, a conspiracy with political implications and enough humour to prevent the proceedings from becoming relentlessly grim. Its pace, colourful characters and Manoj Bajpayee’s wonderfully controlled performance make it an enjoyable watch for viewers who like their thrillers with a generous dose of irreverence.
The real pleasure lies in watching Bajpayee play a man who can be infuriating, funny and unexpectedly compelling, often within the same scene. Ajay Nirvet may not be the cop anyone would want investigating their case, but he is certainly the kind of character one enjoys watching on screen. Gajab Raat may not reinvent the crime thriller, but it delivers an engaging evening of intrigue, humour and a terrific central performance, making it a worthwhile addition to the OTT watchlist.