Gimme more!

An interview with Manoj Bajpai8230;

Do you ever feel that perhaps people take you too seriously, as a result of the kind of movies you8217;re doing?

Not at all. On the contrary, I feel I8217;m not being taken seriously despite the fact that I8217;m trying something different, and despite the fact that I8217;m trying to break new ground in terms of the kind of films I do and the kind of performances I8217;m giving. I feel there8217;s a total lack of appreciation from both, the film media and the film industry. I genuinely thought they would boost my morale and encourage me, but now I feel like I8217;m fighting a lonely battle, because nobody will support me. I guess it8217;s going to take at least another two or three years doing the kind of movies that I believe in 8212; and hopefully, proving my point doing that 8212; before I can win over these people.

What do you think went wrong with your last film, Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar, which simply sank without a trace?

Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar is very European in its structure, but still very mainstream, because it had songs, dances, comedy and fights. By doing such films, I8217;m daring to fail, and I want people to appreciate the effort and the approach, more than a film8217;s box-office collections. If Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar fetches even 40 or 50 per cent collections on its first day, then that is success for me. I feel the film should be appreciated more than Manoj Bajpai. I don8217;t want people to be complimenting me all the time. Don8217;t build me up as the next big thing, just appreciate and encourage me for what I8217;m trying to do.

Kaun and Shool were average grossers. Now Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar has failed completely. Has this scenario prompted you to rethink your strategy at all?

For me, it8217;s very important to have one box-office hit film in a year, so that I can do at least three films of quot;my kindquot;. I8217;m very comfortable doing the song and dance routine, even drama8230; It doesn8217;t take much anyway. Look, it8217;s very easy for me to accept only the usual kind of movies, take the money and go home. But why do only easy stuff? My adrenaline gets pumped when I8217;m walking the edge, when I8217;m somewhere risking my entire popularity even at the cost of being billed overdramatic. If I slowly see realism coming into mainstream cinema, I8217;ll feel proud that I somewhere contributed to that.

Perhaps just for variety, would you ever like to do a mindless comedy with David Dhawan?

I8217;ve approached David Dhawan several times. He promised me he8217;d give me a role sometime, but he8217;s never called. In fact, everytime I meet him, I ask for work. You have to understand, I have no problems with movies like that. I grew up watching Amitabh Bachchan movies. Zanjeer left a big impact on me, I8217;ve seen Ek Duje Ke Liye some 15 times8230; I think it8217;s very important for me to do what I8217;ve always wanted to do. At the same time, I think it8217;s important for me to contribute to the growth of cinema.

Do you have enough to do in a woman-centric film like Zubeidaa where Karisma Kapoor and Rekha have the plum parts?

It8217;s true that Zubeidaa is Karisma8217;s story, it8217;s about her struggle. But my role has great substance too. I might just surprise you with my performance in that film 8212; there8217;s no angry screaming and shouting, no fighting, none of the things that you generally associate with me. It8217;s a very challenging role. At a party recently, Shyam Benegal complimented me on my performance in Zubeidaa, and that for me, is my achievement on that film. I feel I8217;ve fulfilled my responsibility to him. I have to admit, I don8217;t mind if the heroine is the protagonist of the film, as long as I8217;m excited about my role too.

What is it that excites you about your job when you wake up each morning?

When I wake up, I should be excitedly nervous for the work I have to do that day. If I have to do the same thing on the set each day, I8217;ll get bored, I8217;ll put on weight, and eventually, I will fail. I guess that8217;s why I8217;m very suicidal when it comes to choosing films. After all, I have to work on that film for many months, and it has to make me want to go to work each morning.

You seem to have become a victim of your own image8230; Are you a serious person in real life?

I don8217;t brood all the time, I8217;m a very friendly person. It8217;s just that I8217;m serious about my work, and that doesn8217;t mean I8217;m a person who8217;s cut off from the rest of life. It upsets me when people say I should take up every offer that comes my way. It upsets me when people say I shouldn8217;t be so choosy. That8217;s very discouraging, very pathetic, because somewhere it shows their whole disinterest in the film-making business.

So what do you do when you aren8217;t working?

I mostly watch films on my DVD player. Sometimes, I call friends over and we party. I don8217;t like big parties, I feel lost at such places. Essentially, exploring new things and places with friends, is my idea of fun.

And finally, what8217;s the big priority in your life right now?

I have to have my own house. Money is the priority right now. Most of the films I8217;ve done recently, I did either for very little money, or for no money at all. Since I8217;ve established myself, now I want people to compliment me, to give me my reward.