EXCLUSIVE Manoj Bajpayee comments on being compared with late actor Irrfan Khan: Industry was confused as to what to do with us

Manoj Bajpayee is one of the most loved and renowned actor in the movie industry. He recently starred in Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai and left the audience stunned with his performance. The Gulmohar and Naam Shabana actor is all set to star in his upcoming project Joram and is geared to impress his fans and followers. There have been many actors who have spoken about being insecure in the industry and have also accepted the same.

Now we got the chance to speak with Joram actor Manoj Bajpayee in an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Bubble. During the conversation, Manoj opened up whether he feels a sense of insecurity or being compared with late actor Irrfan Khan.

Manoj Bajpayee opens up about being compared with Irrfan Khan

Manoj Bajpayee and Irrfan Khan have delivered content-rich movies and have attracted a good chunk of fans. We happened to ask The Family Man actor what does he have to say about being compared with other actors. To this, Manoj shared, “Mere sath do bahot hi kamaal ke actors kaam kar rahe the, late Irrfan Khan and Kay Kay Menon. You will be surprised to know that we have always voiced our admiration to each other and how much we were learning from each other. Also, we were going through the same thing. it’s not about acceptance, it’s about the industry being completely confused as to what to do with us.“

He added, “But they were not making those kind of films where we could fit in. So, all they could think of is one villain role here or second villain there, that’s all. But we never thought of touching those roles. So we went through it because we were looking for choices. We were looking for things that we always wanted to do and not do something where you are repenting all the time you are on the shoot.“

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Manoj Bajpayeecomments the sense of insecurity from actors

When asked that there have been actors who have felt a sense of insecurity from other actors, and they have accepted too. Speaking of this, Manoj Bajpayee says, “Mai accept tabhi karunga jab mai aisa mehsoos karunga. Mujhe asuraksha nahi hoti hai. Because mai bada content hu apne situation me. Mai bada thankful hu aur greatful hu aur mere oopar ye jawaabdaari hai iss film ko lekar ke jo bhi ho uske prati mai imaandaar hu aur usko achese audience tak leke jaye. Iske beech me time nahi hai kuch aur sochne ka. Aur agar time bhi hai, toh iss baare me dimag nahi jaata hai.

(I will only accept it when I feel like it. I am not insecure. Because I am very content in my situation. I am very thankful and grateful and it is a responsibility to take a film to the audience the best way possible. During this, there is no time to think anything else. If at all we have time, we don’t focus in such things)

Further, Manoj added, “I think I am blessed. That we only look at great things that our contemporaries are doing and what other things we can learn from. Because we are not into those kind of films where self-obsession is required. We are doing things where stories are important, director is important, cinema is very important. So we are part of very different kind of films which is not competing with anyone.”

Further in the conversation, Manoj Bajpayee also opened up about being discovered late in Bollywood.

Watch the full interview here:

Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Manoj Bajpayee reveals how Raajneeti brought him out from his ‘bad time’ in career

Rashita Sahni

I make celebrities talk, laugh & spill the tea!
Film & Fashion Journalist | Bombay