The new year calls for new projects for Manoj Bajpayee. After a prolific year with four releases across OTT and theatres in 2024, the National Award-winning actor is gearing up for another packed year in 2025, with at least three movies already lined up for production. Peepingmoon.com has exclusively learned that the first film Manoj takes up in 2025 will be a Netflix original, titled Inspector Zende. 

Bajpayee will star alongside Rocket Boys actor Jim Sarbh in this feature action comedy, set to premiere on Netflix in late next year. The Sonchiriya actor will play the titular role of a police inspector in what promises to be an engaging mix of action, suspense, and humor. Shooting kicked off last week in Mumbai with Sarbh and other actors, while Bajpayee is set to join the sets on January 5. The team aims to complete filming in a single, uninterrupted schedule by the end of February.

Inspector Zende will be directed by Chinmay Mandlekar, a renowned Marathi actor celebrated for playing the iconic role of Chhatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj in films such as Farzand, Fatteshikast, Pawankhind, Subhedar, and Sher Shivraj. Mandlekar will make his feature directorial debut with this project, adding a new dimension to his over two-decade-long acting career. Producing it for Netflix are Jay Shewakramani and Adipurush director Om Raut under their production banners Northern Lights Films and Retrophiles Pvt. Ltd. Shewakramani continues his Netflix association with this film after previously producing Kartik Aaryan starrer Freddy and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s maiden OTT debut, Jaane Jaan. 

This latest Netflix project marks Manoj Bajpayee’s fourth collaboration with the streaming giant, following Mrs. Serial Killer, Ray, and Killer Soup. Jim Sarbh has also previously worked with the OTT platform on two shows, Yeh Ballet and Eternally Confused and Eager for Love. 

Bajpayee is expected to finish shooting for Raj & DK’s The Family Man 3 before heading to this Netflix movie. The spy action series is nearing production completion and will be wrapped up by December end, with plans for a global premiere on Amazon Prime Video during Diwali 2025. In March 2025, Manoj will start filming for Shekhar Kapoor's Masoom: The New Generation, where he stars alongside Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, and Kaveri Kapur. The Despatch actor is also working with his Satya director, Ram Gopal Varma, on an action thriller, though details of that project remain underwraps.