Manoj Bajpayee says Barry John would impart discipline in his students by sweeping the floor of his acting studio: ‘He would lead by example’

Manoj said that it is up to aspiring actors to decide if they want to be famous for two years or 20 years. Short-term fame, he said, is easily achievable in this day and age of social media. But for sustained success, one has to devote undivided attention to honing one’s craft. “You have to devote four years, without any distractions,” he said, adding, “I gave 10 years, but not because I had any other choice back then.”

He said that he hopes that his daughter is able to work in theatre, particularly under the guidance of Barry John. He said, “I can’t predict how my daughter’s life will turn out. I can only offer guidance. It is her choice entirely if she wants to listen to me, but I will never give her ‘gyaan’. Her journey isn’t going to be like mine, that is a certainty. It would be foolish to expect otherwise… I want to spend time with her so that when she leaves to go live her own life, she has memories of me. I want her to do theatre, from a young age, because I wasn’t able to in Bihar. Barry John is very active in Mumbai, and I would like her to go an learn from him. She could just sit and do nothing there, or she could sweep floors…”

Manoj is often regarded as one of the finest Indian actors of his generation. He will next be seen in the Disney+ Hotstar film Gulmohar, due out on Friday.