New Delhi. Renowned actor Manoj Bajpayee, known for his intense and meaningful roles, reflects on his journey from a small village in Bihar to achieving unparalleled success in Indian cinema. Despite fulfilling his dreams, the actor now feels a deep yearning to return to his roots.
Bajpayee, celebrated for performances in films like Satya, Bandit Queen, Shool, Rajneeti, Gangs of Wasseypur, and Aligarh, shared, “It’s ironic that when I lived there, all I wanted was to leave. Now, having achieved everything I dreamed of, I long to return to those paths.”
Raised in the rural landscape of Belwa in Bihar, Bajpayee moved to Delhi for theater before heading to Mumbai. Despite living in various places, he considers his ancestral village his true home. He recalls, “Belwa will always be my home.”
Bajpayee’s breakthrough came with Bandit Queen, but it was Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya that cemented his place in Bollywood. The film not only brought him recognition but also inspired young men from his village and across Bihar to dream big. “After Satya, boys from my village started leaving home with aspirations. They didn’t all want to become actors, but they believed they could achieve something significant in their lives,” he said.
Recalling his roots, Bajpayee compared his journey to that of veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, who also hailed from Bihar. “Shatru ji came from a wealthy family in Patna and only needed to catch a train to Delhi. For us, it was a tractor ride, followed by a bus, and then a train. It took two-and-a-half days just to reach Patna,” he reminisced.
One of Bajpayee’s iconic roles, Bhiku Mhatre in Satya, almost didn’t happen. In 1997, he auditioned for Ram Gopal Varma’s Daud. Though recognized for Bandit Queen, he was struggling to find consistent work. “When Ram Gopal Varma learned that I had played Mann Singh in Bandit Queen, he said he had been searching for me for years but couldn’t find anyone who knew me,” Bajpayee said.
Varma promised Bajpayee the lead role in his next film but insisted he not take the minor role in Daud. Bajpayee, desperate for work, convinced Varma, saying, “This role pays me Rs. 35,000, which I desperately need now. Later, you can cast me in your next film.” True to his word, Varma offered him Satya, which became a turning point in Bajpayee’s career.
Reflecting on his journey, Bajpayee said he doesn’t consider it a struggle. “The real struggle is that of a rickshaw puller who has to earn daily to survive. We were chasing our dreams. That’s not a struggle—it’s a pursuit,” he concluded.
