Mumbai [India], September 12: Last Man in Tower takes a familiar Mumbai reality — redevelopment — and turns it into an intense examination of home, money, loyalty and the difficult choices faced by middle-class families. Directed by Ben Rekhi and adapted from Aravind Adiga’s acclaimed novel, the film features Manoj Bajpayee, Divya Dutta, Boman Irani and Sukant Goel in key roles. The movie released in theatres on September 11, 2026.
At the centre of the story is Yogesh Mishra, affectionately called Masterji, played by Manoj Bajpayee. A retired teacher living in Mumbai’s ageing Vishram Cooperative Housing Society, Yogesh finds himself standing against a redevelopment proposal that most of his neighbours see as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
What begins as a disagreement over property gradually becomes a battle over values and relationships.
A Mumbai Story About More Than Just Real Estate
The premise of Last Man in Tower is deceptively simple. A builder approaches residents of an old housing society with an attractive redevelopment proposal. The ageing building has become increasingly difficult to maintain, while the promised new apartments and financial returns offer residents a chance at a more comfortable future.
For many, accepting the deal seems like an obvious decision.
Yogesh, however, refuses.
His apartment is not simply a piece of property. It represents memories, familiarity and the life he built with his late wife. His resistance therefore isn’t entirely about money. It is also about his emotional connection to a place that has become inseparable from his identity.
That puts him directly in conflict with builder Dharmen Shah, played by Boman Irani, and eventually with many of his own neighbours.
Manoj Bajpayee Gives the Film Its Emotional Core
The biggest strength of the film is undoubtedly Manoj Bajpayee.
Rather than playing Yogesh as an overly dramatic rebel, Bajpayee keeps the character restrained and grounded. Masterji is stubborn, but he is not presented as a flawless hero. His refusal to compromise slowly turns him into an outsider within the very community he wants to protect.
That gradual isolation gives the performance considerable emotional weight.
As the residents around him begin changing sides, Bajpayee allows Yogesh’s loneliness to become increasingly visible without relying heavily on melodrama. Critics have particularly praised the actor for becoming the film’s moral centre.
Divya Dutta Is a Strong Counterpoint
Divya Dutta also makes a strong impression as Sangeeta Puri, a resident whose attitude towards redevelopment changes dramatically.
Her character represents another side of the housing debate. For some residents, redevelopment is not greed but an opportunity to escape financial pressures and build a better life.
Dutta captures that transformation effectively, moving from a friendly neighbour to someone increasingly consumed by the promise of change. Her performance becomes one of the film’s most unsettling elements because it demonstrates how quickly relationships can deteriorate when personal interests enter the picture.
Boman Irani, meanwhile, brings the required confidence and menace to Dharmen Shah, the builder determined to get the project moving.
The Real Villain Is the Pressure to Change
One of the more interesting aspects of Last Man in Tower is that it doesn’t simply divide its characters into good and bad people.
The residents who agree to sell have understandable reasons. Some are struggling financially. Others want better homes and a more secure future. Some simply believe that resisting progress makes little practical sense.
Yogesh’s position is equally complicated.
The film therefore asks an uncomfortable question: When does progress become a threat to the people it is supposed to benefit?
That question makes the story particularly relevant to Mumbai, where redevelopment has transformed neighbourhoods and continues to reshape the city’s skyline.
A Story About How Money Changes Relationships
The redevelopment dispute gradually destroys the sense of community inside Vishram Society.
Neighbours who once shared tea, conversations and everyday problems begin looking at each other with suspicion. Once money becomes the central issue, friendship starts taking a back seat.
This is where the film’s middle-class commentary becomes particularly effective. The residents are not portrayed as caricatures driven purely by greed. Instead, the movie shows how fear, financial insecurity, ambition and the desire for a better life can influence ordinary people.
The result is a story about human behaviour as much as it is about Mumbai’s property market.
The Film’s Biggest Weakness
Despite its strong premise and performances, Last Man in Tower is not completely successful in translating the sharpness of Adiga’s novel to the screen.
Several critics have noted that the film could have used a stronger satirical edge and that some portions become relatively subdued. The third act and climax may also divide audiences. Indian Express rated the film 2.5/5, while Times of India gave it 4/5, reflecting the different responses to its treatment and execution.
At around 94–97 minutes, the movie is economical and avoids unnecessary subplots, but that brevity also means some supporting characters aren’t explored as deeply as they could have been.
Verdict
Last Man in Tower works best when it focuses on the emotional cost of redevelopment rather than simply presenting it as a battle between a resident and a builder.
Manoj Bajpayee delivers a controlled and deeply human performance, while Divya Dutta adds another layer of complexity to the story. Boman Irani fits comfortably into the role of a powerful developer whose vision of the future clashes with Yogesh’s attachment to the past.
The film ultimately leaves viewers with a difficult choice: Is a new luxury tower automatically a better home than the old building filled with memories?
For Mumbai audiences, that question may feel particularly close to home.
Rating: 3.5/5
Movie Details
- Film: Last Man in Tower
- Director: Ben Rekhi
- Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Divya Dutta, Boman Irani, Sukant Goel, Chandan Roy Sanyal
- Based on: Aravind Adiga’s novel Last Man in Tower
- Screenplay: Sooni Taraporevala
- Runtime: Approximately 1 hour 35–37 minutes
- Release Date: September 11, 2026
- Genre: Drama / Thriller
