Manoj Bajpayee has spent more than three decades moving between intense dramas, mainstream cinema and some of India’s most popular streaming shows. His latest challenge takes him into the world of Aravind Adiga, with the actor playing Yogesh Murthy, better known as Masterji, in “Last Man in Tower.” Based on Adiga’s 2011 novel, the film gives Bajpayee another layered character to explore, while also requiring him to push himself physically during some demanding sequences.
In a new conversation with Variety India, Bajpayee discussed what drew him to Masterji, the difficulty of performing his own action scenes and what audiences can expect from some of his upcoming projects. He also addressed the question that “The Family Man” viewers have been asking for months: when will work begin on Season 4? While there is still some waiting involved, the actor says conversations about the next chapter are approaching.
Why Masterji Challenged Manoj Bajpayee
Masterji is not a character Bajpayee approaches simply as a stubborn old man. His understanding of the role comes from the character’s deeply held principles, his refusal to surrender his dignity and the complicated emotional relationship he has with his son. Those elements give the protagonist a personal vulnerability beneath his uncompromising exterior.
“Masterji is stubborn, addicted to his principles and sticks to what he thinks is right and wrong. He is an old man without a wife who doesn’t want to compromise on his dignity at all, and the last person he wants to be hurt by is his son.”
That emotional conflict appears to be central to the character and could give “Last Man in Tower” a very different texture from Bajpayee’s more action-driven roles. The film is based on Adiga’s novel, which places its characters within a tense conflict over a Mumbai residential tower and the competing interests surrounding its residents. Bajpayee’s Masterji sits at the heart of that struggle, making his personal choices as important as the larger circumstances around him.
The role also gives Bajpayee another opportunity to play someone whose strength comes from conviction rather than physical dominance. That distinction becomes particularly interesting because the actor had to perform physically demanding scenes himself, including the film’s climax.
Bajpayee Did His Own Action Scenes
Bajpayee admits that taking on physically demanding scenes has become more challenging after so many years of performing. He did not rely on a stand-in for his scenes, however, and chose to perform the sequences himself, including the climax. The actor says the physical demands made him a little nervous, particularly because his body does not recover or respond quite as confidently as it once did.
“I feel a little scared doing all of these things now, after so many years. A cramp here, a nick there — my body doesn’t feel confident doing so many things. Having said that, the manner in which it is shot, it happens with complete suddenness. He is caught in this and he doesn’t know how to save himself,” he says.
The way the climax was filmed helped make the sequence more manageable for him. Rather than building the scene around prolonged physical choreography, its suddenness becomes part of the character’s experience, with Masterji caught in a situation where he has little time to react. That approach allowed Bajpayee to approach the action through the character’s fear and confusion rather than simply treating it as a conventional stunt sequence.
It is also a reminder of the kind of performance Bajpayee has continued to pursue throughout his career. Whether he is playing a police officer, intelligence operative, troubled individual or an ordinary man pushed into extraordinary circumstances, he tends to ground the role in character rather than spectacle. “Last Man in Tower” appears to follow that same approach.
The Family Man Season 4 Is Moving Closer
While “Last Man in Tower” gives Bajpayee a new character to inhabit, audiences remain equally interested in his return as Srikant Tiwari in “The Family Man.” The spy thriller’s third season became one of the most watched series of 2025, keeping the Raj & DK-created franchise firmly among India’s most popular streaming properties. Naturally, questions about Season 4 have continued to follow Bajpayee wherever he goes.
The actor says discussions about the fourth season are expected to begin soon. However, the process will involve developing and finalizing the script before the cast receives dates for preparation and filming.
“Talks will start happening soon,” he says, adding, “It’s quite flattering that it has become such a great franchise that each and every person, be it a child or an adult, keeps asking about it. Once the conversation about the fourth season starts, the script will be finalized, and then we’ll be called in to start prepping for it and give our dates.”
That means fans should not expect the next season to move immediately into production. The creative team still has to settle the story before Bajpayee and the rest of the cast can begin preparing. For a franchise that has steadily expanded its scale and storytelling across three seasons, the writing stage will be particularly important in deciding where Srikant’s story goes next.
Netflix Thriller Gets A New Title
Bajpayee also provided an update on another project that has gone through a complicated development period. The OTT thriller previously carried the title “Ghooskhor Pandat,” but the project faced legal challenges connected to its name and is now awaiting a final title. Netflix is expected to provide an update once the new name has been decided.
“Everybody is so very optimistic. We thought about three to four titles, but we’re still deciding about the final one. The team has come up with some interesting titles. Netflix will give us an update. It will be out in a couple of months.”
The film had previously been expected to arrive sometime this year, but its revised release schedule has not been disclosed. For now, Bajpayee’s comments indicate that the project remains active and that the team is working toward a new title before its eventual release.
Taken together, the updates show Bajpayee entering another busy stretch of his career. “Last Man in Tower” puts him in a demanding literary adaptation, “The Family Man” is inching toward another season of development, and his Netflix thriller is waiting for its next announcement. For an actor who has repeatedly moved between cinema and streaming without settling into one lane, the next phase looks just as varied.
Manoj Bajpayee Projects Q&A
Who does Manoj Bajpayee play in Last Man in Tower?
Manoj Bajpayee plays Yogesh Murthy, also known as Masterji. The character is based on the central figure from Aravind Adiga’s 2011 novel “Last Man in Tower.”
Did Manoj Bajpayee perform his own action scenes?
Yes. Bajpayee says he performed all of his scenes himself, including the climax. He also admitted that physical sequences feel more challenging after many years of performing action.
What did Manoj Bajpayee say about Masterji?
Bajpayee describes Masterji as a stubborn man deeply committed to his principles and unwilling to compromise his dignity. He also highlights the character’s complicated relationship with his son.
When will The Family Man Season 4 talks begin?
Bajpayee said that discussions for the fourth season will start soon. The script will need to be finalized before the cast begins preparation and schedules their dates.
What happened to Ghooskhor Pandat?
The OTT thriller previously known as “Ghooskhor Pandat” has been going through a title change after legal challenges involving its name. Bajpayee said the team has considered several new titles and that Netflix will provide an update.
When will Manoj Bajpayee’s Netflix thriller release?
Bajpayee said the project is expected to be out in a couple of months, although the source material does not provide a confirmed release date. Its new title and final release schedule are still awaited.
