Manoj Bajpayee admits he was ‘never considered for high-society roles’ except in few films; says, ‘No director could think of me as a rich guy’

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Manoj Bajpayee admits he was 'never considered for high-society roles' except in few films; says, 'No director could think of me as a rich guy'

As a dedicated follower of Hindi cinema, I have had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable journey of Manoj Bajpayee, an actor whose talent is unparalleled and whose performances are nothing short of extraordinary. From his breakthrough role as Bhiku Mhatre in Satya to his recent portrayal of Bhaiyya Ji, he has mastered a wide array of roles with such finesse that it leaves one in awe.

Manoj Bajpayee, who starred in Apoorv Singh Karki’s film Bhaiyya Ji, is known for his exceptional acting skills within Hindi cinema. Bajpayee first gained recognition with his breakthrough role as gangster Bhiku Mhatre in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1998 film Satya. Over the years, this adaptable actor has portrayed a wide range of characters, from a policeman in Shool to a dacoit in Sonchiriya and many more. Despite his versatility, Bajpayee has not often been offered roles in high-society films, with only a few exceptions. Interestingly, Bajpayee recently mentioned that directors seldom envision him as a wealthy character.

In a recent conversation with Bombay Times, Manoj Bajpayee discussed his experiences with being typecast in films and not receiving substantial roles except for in Zubeidaa, Veer-Zaara, and Gulmohar. Regarding Zubeidaa, Bajpayee mentioned that director Shyam Benegal’s determination led to him being cast as a king in the 2001 movie. Benegal believed that real Maharajas did not appear as divine Greek gods, and this was echoed by the actor.

In relation to his character in Veer-Zaara, Manoj Bajpayee mentioned that he portrayed a Pakistani politician in the movie starring Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta. Yash Chopra, the late director, who chose to include him in the 2004 film after watching his performance in Pinjar, was determined that Bajpayee would shoot two specific scenes for it. The actor known as Bhaiyya Ji added that the filmmakers had a “perspective that comes from closely observing life.

Bajpayee went on to say, “Most of the characters I’ve played have been from middle and lower-middle class backgrounds. Directors rarely envision me in high-society roles, with only a couple of exceptions, the two notable ones I mentioned. This typecasting is present.

Previously, during an interview with TopMob Masterclass, Manoj Bajpayee opened up about turning down commercial films in his acting career. He explained that the reason for this was because he was consistently offered villain or negative roles within those films. The star of Gangs of Wasseypur clarified that he has always been selective about choosing movies with a strong narrative, which is why he’s continued working on such projects.

Apart from his work in various films such as Aks, Rajneeti, Aligarh, LOC Kargil, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari (and several more), Bajpayee has also been involved in numerous movie projects.

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2024-09-25 19:38