Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest |

‘Actors like me deserve some credit’

Photo: R.V. Moorthy

Trendsetter: Manoj Bajpayee feels he is partly responsible for blurring lines between mainstream and offbeat cinema

Manoj Bajpayee is compensating for last year’s absence due to a bad back that laid him for eight months. “I didn’t work at all last year. This year I want to have four to five releases one after another. Without work I go mad,” ; says Bajpayee.

Manoj opens his account with “Money Hai To Honey Hai” (MHTHH) which releases on July 25. Though Bajpayee has attempted light roles in the past with “Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar” MHTHH would be his first full-fledged comedy. Bajpayee and Govinda star in the comedy directed by choreographer-turned director Ganesh Acharya. Bajpayee will also be seen shaking a leg in the film. “It’s not a big deal. All commercial films have songs and dance. I am doing this film for my friend Ganesh Acharya. It’s his wish that I be part of all his initial directorial ventures,” says Bajpayee, who plays “someone like Mungeri Lal but doesn’t see “haseen sapne”. He wants to experience life.”

Talking about comedy, the NSD product says: “With every film you become aware of different capabilities. I was apprehensive to do certain things in the film. I learnt a lot. It’s a different genre. Working with Govinda who is so natural and spontaneous in this genre, I was careful. I realised you have to come to the sets with an open mind. Also Ganesh didn’t allow us to get out of the character anywhere in the film.”

The film will be followed by “Jugaad” a humorous take on the land-sealing drive that rocked Delhi. Directed by Anand Kumar, Bajpayee plays the role of a hi-flying CEO of an Ad agency. “It’s based on the real life story of the producer. To portray a millionaire going through a crisis and to make it believable was challenging.” Then there is “The Whisperers” co-starring Rahul Bose made by Rajeev Veerani, a Texas-based filmmaker, which was shown in the ongoing Osian’s Cinefan film festival. “I hope someone buys the film. At the festival, it got a standing ovation,” says the actor who has Sanjay Gupta’s “Acid Factory” and Prakash Jha’s “Rajneeti” in his kitty as well. Talking about the blurring of lines between mainstream and offbeat cinema, Manoj says: “Having done such films much ahead of time, I think actors like me deserve some credit. Whatever I am today is because of such films. My success opened the doors for other similar artistes.” The actor is all set to turn producer as well. “It is a very logical growth for an actor. This is the field that what we know. Also turning producer gives you freedom to work the way you want to and with people you want to. I have a name, “Manoj Bajpayee Productions” and I have got scripts. I am waiting for a like-minded person who will give me money to make these films.”

About doing a film with wife, Shabana, who was launched as Neha by Vidhu Vinod Chopra in “Kareeb”, Manoj says: “There haven’t been any offers. She is very choosy. She doesn’t look at films as the sole career though she is doing Sanjay Gupta’s “Alibaug.”

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail