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 youacirc;euro;trade;re doing?
Not at all. On the contrary, I feel Iacirc;euro;trade;m not being taken seriously despite the fact that Iacirc;euro;trade;m trying something different, and despite the fact that Iacirc;euro;trade;m trying to break new ground in terms of the kind of films I do and the kind of performances Iacirc;euro;trade;m giving. I feel thereacirc;euro;trade;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 Iacirc;euro;trade;m fighting a lonely battle, because nobody will support me. I guess itacirc;euro;trade;s going to take at least another two or three years doing the kind of movies that I believe in and hopefully, proving my point doing that 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, Iacirc;euro;trade;m daring to fail, and I want people to appreciate the effort and the approach, more than a filmacirc;euro;trade;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 donacirc;euro;trade;t want people to be complimenting me all the time. Donacirc;euro;trade;t build me up as the next big thing, just appreciate and encourage me for what Iacirc;euro;trade;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?
For me, itacirc;euro;trade;s very important to have one box-office hit film in a year, so that I can do at least three films of acirc;euro;oelig;my kindacirc;euro;. Iacirc;euro;trade;m very comfortable doing the song and dance routine, even drama8230; It doesnacirc;euro;trade;t take much anyway. Look, itacirc;euro;trade;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 Iacirc;euro;trade;m walking on the edge, when Iacirc;euro;trade;m somewhere risking my entire popularity even at the cost of being billed over-dramatic. If I slowly see realism coming into mainstream cinema, Iacirc;euro;trade;ll feel proud that I contributed to that.

Perhaps just for variety, would you ever like to do a mindless comedy with David Dhawan?
Iacirc;euro;trade;ve approached David Dhawan several times. He promised me heacirc;euro;trade;d give me a role sometime, but heacirc;euro;trade;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, Iacirc;euro;trade;ve seen Ek Duje Ke Liye some 15 times8230; I think itacirc;euro;trade;s very important for me to do what Iacirc;euro;trade;ve always wanted to do. At the same time, I think itacirc;euro;trade;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?
Itacirc;euro;trade;s true that Zubeidaa is Karismaacirc;euro;trade;s story, itacirc;euro;trade;s about her struggle. But my role has great substance too. I might just surprise you with my performance in that film thereacirc;euro;trade;s no angry screaming and shouting, no fighting, none of the things that you generally associate with me. Itacirc;euro;trade;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 Iacirc;euro;trade;ve fulfilled my responsibility to him. I have to admit, I donacirc;euro;trade;t mind if the heroine is the protagonist of the film, as long as Iacirc;euro;trade;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, Iacirc;euro;trade;ll get bored, Iacirc;euro;trade;ll put on weight, and eventually, I will fail. I guess thatacirc;euro;trade;s why Iacirc;euro;trade;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 donacirc;euro;trade;t brood all the time, Iacirc;euro;trade;m a very friendly person. Itacirc;euro;trade;s just that Iacirc;euro;trade;m serious about my work, and that doesnacirc;euro;trade;t mean Iacirc;euro;trade;m a person whoacirc;euro;trade;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 shouldnacirc;euro;trade;t be so choosy. Thatacirc;euro;trade;s very discouraging, very pathetic, because somewhere it shows their whole disinterest in the film-making business.

So what do you do when you arenacirc;euro;trade;t working?
I mostly watch films on my DVD player. Sometimes, I call friends over and we party. I donacirc;euro;trade;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, whatacirc;euro;trade;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 Iacirc;euro;trade;ve done recently, I did either for very little money, or for no money at all. Since Iacirc;euro;trade;ve established myself, now I want people to compliment me, to give me my reward.