Kay Kay Menon reveals losing Maqbool to Irrfan Khan, getting Haider because Manoj Bajpayee was unavailable; ‘Had to settle for playing villains’

Kay Kay Menon reveals losing Maqbool to Irrfan Khan, getting Haider because Manoj Bajpayee was unavailable; ‘Had to settle for playing villains’

As a dedicated follower of Kay Kay Menon’s illustrious career, I can confidently say that his journey in Bollywood is nothing short of extraordinary. His ability to effortlessly slip into various roles across diverse genres is truly commendable and has left an indelible mark on the industry.


Actor Kay Kay Menon, best known for his role in Railway Men, is highly respected for his ability to adapt to different roles and genres. His performances are uniquely captivating on screen. In a recent interview, Kay Kay revealed that he owes the roles of Maqbool and Haider to Irrfan Khan and Manoj Bajpayee, as they were initially intended for him but went to those two actors instead.

Additionally, he mentioned that many filmmakers found it challenging to utilize their full potential, resulting in him often portraying the antagonist in numerous films.

In a conversation with the Indian Express, Menon shared his thoughts on Bajpayee’s feelings of being “overlooked” by filmmakers compared to Irrfan Khan and himself. In response to Manoj’s sentiments, the actor from ‘The Corporate’ disclosed that they have been good friends for a long time and frequently discuss their professional struggles over lengthy phone calls.

The actor portraying Drona shared that he missed out on Vishal Bhardwaj’s Maqbool due to his friend Irrfan, but eventually landed the role of Haider since Manoj Kumar wasn’t available. He stated, “However, if opportunities present themselves, they seem to materialize. I find it hard to believe what Manoj said, as he was initially intended for Haider.”

Menon mentioned that he, Manoj, and Khan joined the film industry at approximately the same point in time. However, he felt that movie makers during that era were not skilled enough to fully utilize their talents. He further explained, “Consequently, we ended up taking on villainous roles sporadically. We had to take on such roles quite frequently. That’s just how the industry functioned back then.”

In other words, the actor from ABCD shared an instance where he couldn’t participate in a project, leading Vishal Bhardwaj and Manoj Bajpayee to possibly consider him unavailable and decide to cast someone else instead. He mentioned that such instances were common among them, and they often discussed these occurrences over the phone, even while Irrfan was still alive.

In a recent statement, the actor from Haider shared that they had a special relationship, and this bond with Manoj continues to persist. For instance, Kay Kay revealed that he was originally intended for the role in Maqbool, but due to unavoidable circumstances, Irrfan stepped in to play it instead.

Kay Kay acknowledged that he had been pigeonholed for a while, playing only intense, serious characters. Yet, he emphasized his versatility by stating, “I’m just as capable of being ‘seriously funny.'” He clarified that even though he gave his best in every role, he never let the weight of the drama overshadow his sense of humor and light-heartedness.

When questioned about his absence in mainstream movies, The Baby’s actor explained that he remains open to such opportunities if they are captivating and not overly demanding. He clarified that he doesn’t strictly adhere to the idea of realism and stated that he has no qualms with commercial blockbusters or films featuring fantastical elements.

His main focus is on making things seem authentic; he’s open to watching anything provided that it stays believable within its own storyline. To him, regardless of the genre – be it sci-fi or others – the crux lies in preserving the internal consistency of the movie’s universe.

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2024-08-10 14:24