EXCLUSIVE | Manoj Bajpayee set to reunite with Satya director Ram Gopal Verma: ‘We are trying to find…’

When asked if his Satya character Bhiku Mhatre constricts him in moving ahead or cast a shadow on his other roles, Manoj Bajpayee said, “It would have, had I not taken a different path by exploring various roles and genres. With that kind of a success or recognition, it wouldn’t have been easy for any actor to come out. For three years, I was only known as Bhiku Mhatre. It was only after Shool, Kaun, and Zubeidaa, that people started separating the actor from the character. That happened because of my constant search for different kind of films and completely opposite roles that I have done. To my luck, all of those roles became quite memorable.”

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Would he have done Bhiku Mhatre any differently now? “Craft wise, maybe,” he said, adding, “But, Bhiku Mhatre in that age required that kind of energy. I wouldn’t have been able to do it like that now. I had a different kind of energy, I don’t have it now.” Bajpayee then quipped, “My bones are cracking now most of the times. I am always very careful while jumping around. Every age has its own beauty.”

On the work front, Manoj Bajpayee will be seen next in Despatch, which will stream on ZEE5.