Catching up

Based on Delhi’s MCD sealing drive that took place years ago,his upcoming release,Anand Kumar’s Jugaad,was in the making for long. It is finally due to see light of the day this month but that hasn’t dampened his spirits one bit. “I had signed the film when the issue was still fresh and once I’m committed,nothing changes it,” he says curtly,before explaining his role.

Bajpai plays an ad agency owner in the film who one fine day finds himself on the streets after his office is razed to the ground. “My character naturally feels he’s lost everything and that he’s let down his team. But in weakness,he finds the strength — with support from his wife (Hrishitaa Bhatt) and his team — to get everything back.” He then sets out on a journey that takes him through every hook and crook. “Or jugaad,as you call it in Delhi.”

The new year is expected to be busier for him. Soon after Jugaad,Bajpai readies for the release of Sanjay Gupta’s Acid Factory and Prakash Jha’s Rajniti,a political potboiler starring Ajay Devgan and Katrina Kaif. “All I can reveal at the moment is that both the films will see me in powerful roles.”

It’s difficult not to bring up Ram Gopal Varma when chatting with the 40-year-old — he was once as much family to Varma as any of the director’s other protégés and,after all,Bajpai’s Bhiku Matre was Varma’s creation. But then the equation changed,as happens usually with the reclusive filmmaker.

Bajpai is evasive and brusque,but says enough to imply that things will never be the same again. “We ended the relationship with a mutual consent. And no,there’s no bitterness. I may not work with him but I respect him as a filmmaker.”

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