Divya Dutta joins Manoj Bajpayee as antagonist in Rana Daggubati-backed Last Man in Tower adaptation

Divya Dutta. Pic/Instagram; (right) Manoj Bajpayee. Pic/Yogen Shah

Producer Rana Daggubati is going full steam ahead on his next, a movie based on Booker Prize-winning author Aravind Adiga's 2011 novel, Last Man in Tower. While Manoj Bajpayee was announced as the lead when the project was unveiled in November 2025, now there's an addition to the cast. We've learnt that Divya Dutta has been roped in to play the antagonist in Ben Rekhi's directorial venture.

Set in a Mumbai housing society, Last Man in Tower revolves around a teacher who refuses to sell his flat to a real estate developer when the building is under consideration for redevelopment. Through the story, Adiga explored themes of greed, ambition, and urban development.

Aravind Adiga. Pic/AFP

Dutta's character is expected to be central to this conflict. A source told mid-day, "Divya's antagonist isn't one-note; she is shown as ruthless and calculative, but there is also vulnerability to her. This film thrives on tension between her and Manoj's characters."

The adaptation is currently in development, with Rekhi and the team aiming to take the project on floors in the second half of 2026. The source added, "Constant redevelopment of residential properties that builders undertake for their profits is a reality of our times. The story is just as relevant today as it was in 2011."

From Aravind Adiga's pages to the screen

. ‘Selection Day' (2018)

. ‘The White Tiger' (2021)