Manoj Bajpayee wanted to leave Mumbai but Mahesh Bhatt intervened: ‘Don’t go, you are made for this city and cinema’

Manoj Bajpayee got candid about his acting journey and his collaboration and chats with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt in a recent interview.

Manoj Bajpayee recalls working with Mahesh Bhatt. (Photo: Manoj, Shaheen Bhatt/Instagram)

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That Manoj Bajpayee is one of the finest working artistes in Indian cinema today is old news. But there was a time when even someone of his calibre had thought about quitting the movie business and returning home after facing early rejection and constant struggle in the industry.

The talented actor was recounting the obstacles he had to face despite getting cast in a few known and popular projects such as the TV serial Swabhiman and the Mahesh Bhatt movie Tamanna, bankrolled by Pooja Bhatt Productions. Speaking on Rajat Sharma’s Aap Ki Adalat, Bajpayee said that he was cast in Swabhiman in a small role, which was created by Bhatt. But post that he had to wait a fair bit for offers to come his way. In fact, it was Bhatt himself, who after spotting him in a scene one fine morning, wanted him on set for his next, which was Tamanna.

“Ye kaun sa abhineta hai jo ye wala role kar raha hai, ye to kamaal ka actor hai, iska number mujhe bhejo (Who is this actor, he is quite good! Send me his contact details),” Bajpayee recalled what Bhatt had said after seeing him perform one or two scenes in the TV show. However, when he actually received a message from the director, he did not believe it: “Mujhe laga koi mera bana raha hai bohot bura (I thought someone is making a fool out of me).” As it turned out, it was the filmmaker himself who was reaching out to Bajpayee and wanted to work with him. “Bhatt sahab ne kaha tum abhi aa jao, phir unhone mujhe Tamanna film mein role bhi diya, Pooja Bhatt Productions’ ki wo pehli film thi (Bhatt sahab asked me to come over quickly, and then offered me Tamanna. It was Pooja Bhatt’s first film as a producer).” The actor said he was initially called by Bhatt to be cast in Paresh Rawal’s role as Rawal was facing some date issues at the time.

Also Read | Manoj Bajpayee says he was drunk when he met Amitabh Bachchan for the first time, hugged him: ‘I did not have the courage’

Bajpayee added that he was moved and motivated by Bhatt’s generosity.

“Bhatt sahab gave me a lot of respect and motivated me. I don’t know what he saw in me. He even said ‘I think you want to leave the city and go back to your home.’ Which was true. But he said ‘Don’t go because you are the kind of actor, who is made for this city and cinema. The city will give you a lot, so much that you could never have imagined it in your wildest dreams,'” the actor mentioned.

Bajpayee also stated how when he could not afford expensive alcohol those days, it was Bhatt who had asked him to try a costly brand of scotch in his office. Bajpayee downed four glasses thinking that the alcohol was mild. However, later he admitted he could not even see the director who was sitting in front of him and speaking in an animated manner: “After having four shots of that scotch, I stopped seeing Bhatt sahab. It felt like I was trapped in some sort of a weird dream.”

On the work front, Manoj is currently looking forward to the release of the ZEE5 courtroom drama Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, where he is seen in the role of a passionate lawyer.

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