The title compound, C20H16N2O, obtained from the reaction of benzil with phenylhydrazine, crystallizes with two crystallographically independent and conformationally different molecules in the asymmetric unit. The dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings of the benzil unit is 15.04 (6)° in one molecule and 68.81 (5)° in the other. The crystal structure is stabilized by N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O intermolecular hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯π interactions.