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Gajab Raat backdrop

Gajab Raat

23 October 2026Hindi2h 4m

What critics are saying

Critical reception for Gajab Raat is largely mixed to negative, with the majority of reviewers finding the film a passable but unremarkable thriller.

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Ritesh Shah DirectorNeeraj Pandey WriterRitesh Shah WriterArvind Singh CinematographySanjoy Chowdhury Music

A corrupt, troubled cop's night spirals out of control when a reluctant act of mercy toward an injured girl pulls him into a deadly web of crime.

Critic Consensus

Critical reception for Gajab Raat is largely mixed to negative, with the majority of reviewers finding the film a passable but unremarkable thriller. Manoj Bajpayee's performance as a morally conflicted, corrupt police officer is the most consistently praised element across reviews, with several critics crediting him as the primary reason the film remains watchable. The most common criticisms point to weak writing, unconvincing developments, and a disappointing climax, particularly in the second half, which many felt failed to sustain the promise of the film's opening. A small number of reviewers found the pacing and ensemble engaging enough to recommend it as a one-time watch.

11 rated reviews · 4 positive · 5 mixed · 2 negative

Praised: Manoj Bajpayee's central performanceCriticised: weak writing and unconvincing climax

AI-generated summary of 16 critic reviews · may contain errors

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Critic Reviews (16)

Updated
Shubhra GuptaTop Critic· Indian Express
5.0
“Manoj Bajpayee, unerringly playing a very efficient but very corrupt cop whose conscience is not completely dead, kept me watching even when the pace slackened. A film whose level of interest depends entirely on how pacy it is has no business losing track of time, but given that it goes over two hours, what else could we have expected.”
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8.0
“Gajab Raat understands that a good thriller does not always need an earth-shattering conspiracy.”
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Trisha Gaur· KoiMoi
7.0
“Manoj Bajpayee's corrupt police officer pausing his deeds to save a girl is a pacy thriller that does not disappoint”
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Rishabh Suri· Hindustan Times
6.0
“Once the initial intrigue wears off, the film struggles to keep you invested. A decent one time watch, then, though the night could have been considerably more eventful.”
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Simran Khan· TimesNowNews
6.0
“Gajab Raat is a one-time watch that relies heavily on Manoj Bajpayee's dependable performance but doesn't offer anything particularly groundbreaking in the thriller genre. While the twists keep the story moving, the uneven pacing and familiar plot points prevent it from becoming a truly gripping watch.”
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Sukanya Verma· Rediff
5.0
“There's no cinematic style or technical wizardry to be found in Shah's storytelling, and despite Manoj Bajpayee's stellar performance and nuanced portrayal of his character's fluctuating morality, the script weaknesses, clumsy action, and flimsy characterization around him significantly undermine the film.”
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Aishani Biswas· Outlook
5.0
“The film's most interesting thread is its depiction of a police officer who is part of the rot he is expected to confront. Bajpayee gives this contradiction its weight, with a lived-in quality to his performance that does not make the character instantly likeable, and that is to the film's advantage.”
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Archika Khurana· Times Of India
5.0
“Gajab Raat has the makings of a gripping crime thriller. However, despite a promising premise and a race against time, the film struggles to deliver the twists and tension the genre demands. Gajab Raat is a watchable but unremarkable thriller that relies on Bajpayee to compensate for its narrative shortcomings.”
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Bollywood Hungama News Network· Bollywood Hungama
5.0
“On the whole, GAJAB RAAT is a decent thriller that starts on a promising note but falters in the second half due to unconvincing developments and a convenient climax.”
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Sana Farzeen· India Today
4.0
“The Netflix thriller, directed by Ritesh Shah and co-written by Neeraj Pandey, has corruption, a vaccine scam, and a morally conflicted protagonist, but very little convincing writing. There is hardly any gajabness (wonderment) here, only ajabness (bafflement).”
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“Although the answer to these difficult questions is a bit obvious and unconvincing, it's Manoj Bajpayee who ultimately holds the reins tightly and makes it enjoyable till the end. However, beyond that, the film lacks the charm and novelty that you might expect from a collaboration like this.”
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Rachel Pereira· Mid-Day
Not rated
“While it opens with promise, its increasingly complicated conspiracy and underwhelming climax prevent it from delivering a gripping crime drama.”
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Scroll Staff· Scroll.in
Not rated
“The 123-minute thriller gets its momentum from a plot that takes place over 24 hours and its kicks from watching Manoj Bajpayee in action. Bajpayee's Ajay is so marvellously weaselly that he almost manages to sell the film's weak finale. Having revealed all kinds of strange goings-on over the course of several hours, Gajab Raat settles for a disappointingly ordinary, and implausible, solution.”
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Anuj Kumar· The Hindu
Not rated
“An engaging plot and an electric ensemble make it a night to remember. With an electric ensemble and a gripping plot, director Ritesh Shah turns a routine police investigation into a breathless arena of institutional warfare.”
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Arathi Kannan· Deccan Herald
Not rated
“Neeraj Pandey and Ritesh Shah team up for a crime drama starring Manoj Bajpayee as a quick-witted cop, but weak writing in the second half lets down an otherwise enthusiastic and promising beginning.”
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Not rated
“Manoj Bajpayee's Thriller Is a Big-Time Misfire... Gajab Raat is more ajeeb than gajab. At least bad films leave you with a headache, this one leaves you dumbfounded.”
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Cast & Crew

Cast

Details

Release Date
23 October 2026
Runtime
2h 4m
Language
Hindi

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