NEW DELHI, Dec 7: What does it take for a farmer’s son from a village in Bihar to realize his dreams in the bustling city of Mumbai, where countless aspirations are both fulfilled and shattered daily? Manoj Bajpayee has the key — simply be “intelligently stubborn”.
The versatile actor, who has made his mark in both commercial blockbusters and independent cinema, with memorable roles like Bhiku Mhatre in “Satya” and Srikant Tiwari in “The Family Man”, reflects on how he quickly grasped that only those truly dedicated to their dreams would withstand the challenges.
Originating from Belwa, a place that seems to depict a classic fairytale success story, he came to this realization early on.
“One must be intelligently stubborn and audacious. I advocate for stubbornness because, otherwise, circumstances and situations will confront you at every turn, making you second-guess yourself,” Bajpayee shared during an interview at the PTI headquarters.
“There’s an adage that says you might have to take four steps back before making a leap forward. I haven’t been too enamored with myself; I understood the context.”
Following his breakout performance in the 1998 underworld drama “Satya”, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, which is still celebrated for Bajpayee’s portrayal of gangster Bhiku Mhatre, numerous offers flooded in. However, he was set on avoiding typecasting.
“I was quite adamant about not being pigeonholed… The industry was uncertain about what to offer me, thinking that if I declined, they could entice me with a higher pay. But I recognized that I wouldn’t accept a villain role since it would likely confine me to that image permanently,” the 55-year-old actor explained.
“I was aware of this even back then,” he noted, referring to iconic actors Pran and Ajeet, who found it incredibly difficult to break free from their villainous roles.
Next up for Bajpayee is his portrayal of investigative journalist Joy Bag in Kanu Behl’s “Despatch”, set to premiere on ZEE5 on December 13. He acknowledges that everyone has unique paths and destinations.
“If Manoj Bajpayee has achieved a certain level in his career, the same can be said for Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Irrfan Khan, or Kay Kay Menon. There’s no need to copy anyone else’s journey.”
Having grown up dreaming of a career in showbiz as one of six siblings, Bajpayee recounted how his farmer father lacked the means to support his aspirations. At just 17, he relocated to Delhi, pursued a college education — fulfilling his mother’s wishes — engaged in theatre, and eventually made his way to Mumbai.
He made his film debut in a minor role in Govind Nihalani’s “Drohkaal” in 1994 and was first recognized for his performance in Shekhar Kapur’s “Bandit Queen” the same year. His big break came with “Satya”, which put him in the spotlight.
This marked the beginning of a prolific three-decade-long career, continuing to thrive. Along the way, he starred in films such as “Shool”, “Zubeida”, “Rajneeti”, “Gangs of Wasseypur”, “Aligarh”, and “Sonchiriya”, smoothly transitioning to television with “Gulmohar”, “Sirf Ek Banda Kaafi Hai”, and the web series “The Family Man”, now gearing up for its third season.
Describing the success of “Satya” as “humongous”, Bajpayee reflected on how it not only altered his trajectory and the perception of cinema but also inspired many young individuals back home. His journey from a small village to the silver screen encouraged others to venture beyond their immediate surroundings and chase success, not limited to merely the film industry.
This was arguably the first instance of a village boy from Bihar attaining significant success, with Shatrughan Sinha being the only other notable actor from Bihar in the film industry up to that time.
“I was informed that not just individuals from my village or district, but many young people from the state left their homes after ‘Satya’. Not all of them aimed to be actors, though some certainly did. Many departed because they believed if I could make it on-screen, then they too could pursue their dreams,” he shared.
He added that the motivation to step out and strive beyond their comfort zones was almost nonexistent due to a lack of infrastructure.
“Everyone knew that with Shatru ji, he came from a well-off family in Patna. He simply had to catch a train to Delhi. For us, it meant taking a tractor ride, then a bus, and finally a train to reach Delhi, consuming around two and a half days just to reach Patna.”
The casting of Bhiku Mhatre, famous for the line “Mumbai ka king kaun,” is a fascinating story in itself.
Bajpayee initially auditioned for Ram Gopal Varma’s 1997 film “Daud”, after appearing in “Bandit Queen”, which had garnered him some recognition but not a major break.
“When the film debuted, every other actor got busy in the industry, while I was left without any opportunities.”
He vividly remembers the audition.
“When Ramu found out I had portrayed Mann Singh in ‘Bandit Queen’, he remarked, ‘I’ve been trying to get information about you for the last four to five years, but no one had any idea how to contact you. Now that I’ve found you, don’t take that role in ‘Daud’. I’m working on my next film, and you’ll star as the lead.’”
Bajpayee insisted on being part of “Daud”.
“I told him, ‘Sir, please let me take this role, and when your project arises, you can cast me for that later. I’m receiving ₹35,000 for this role, and it’s crucial for me at this moment.’”
RGV kept his promise.
“Satya” marked the culmination of an extensive journey, although Bajpayee prefers not to label it a struggle. “The true struggle belongs to a rickshaw driver who won’t earn if he doesn’t pull his rickshaw one day. It’s not his dream… We were pursuing our aspirations.”
From Bihar to nearly a decade in the Delhi theatre circuit and eventually to Mumbai, Bajpayee has experienced different identities over time. But Belwa, his ancestral village, will always be home.
“It’s ironic that while I was there, I sought to leave. Now that life has blessed me and I’ve found success, I feel a longing to return.” (PTI)
