Manoj Bajpayee Enjoys Playing Characters From Delhi

MUMBAI – Manoj Bajpayee, fresh off a prolific 2025, recently shared his enthusiasm for his upcoming Netflix title ‘Ghooskhor Pandat,’ noting a particular fondness for roles rooted in the national capital.

Speaking at a Netflix event in Mumbai on February 3, the actor explained that his new character is less about intensity and more about moral ambiguity. He described the protagonist as a man on the wrong side of the law who has remained at the same rank since joining the service. According to Bajpayee, the character is a complex mix of a scorer and a womanizer who, despite being married, is in love with another woman.

The actor linked his performance to his personal history with Delhi, where he spent his formative years. Bajpayee moved to the city at 18 as an outsider, completed his graduation, and practiced theatre there before leaving to film Bandit Queen. Because of this deep connection, he finds a unique joy in portraying Delhiites, especially this specific police officer. He credited director Ritesh for crafting what he called a magnificent, colorful, and highly interesting character.

This role follows a string of successful projects for Bajpayee in 2025. In September, he headlined the action comedy thriller Inspector Zende, playing a quirky investigator alongside Jim Sarbh. He also earned international acclaim for Jugnuma: The Fable, a mystical Himalayan drama directed by Raam Reddy that toured the Berlinale and Leeds film festivals.

Beyond these films, Bajpayee recently returned as Srikant Tiwari in the third season of the hit series The Family Man. His upcoming slate remains busy, with a featured role in the adaptation of Aravind Adiga’s ‘The Last Man in Tower, ‘produced by Spirit Media. As he moves into 2026, Bajpayee continues to balance mainstream digital hits with independent, character-driven cinema.