February 10, 2018
Actor Manoj Bajpayee says he has always explored
performance-oriented characters throughout his career, but his job is getting
tougher now.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q. You are back in
Chambal after how many years?
A. Yes. I am back in Chambal. The last time
I shot here it was for Shekhar Kapur's "Bandit Queen". How many years ago was
that? Maybe 22-23 years ago. Chambal has transformed completely. Firstly, the
dacoits are gone. They've all been eliminated. That Chambal in our movies with
galloping horses never existed. The little dusty and desolate villages we used
to shoot in are now gone. In their place we've rapidly developing towns with
sturdy roads, internet connection, satellite television. It's different
world...Shining India.
Q. Your career is shining bright?
A. God
has been kind. The audience has been kind, though demanding. They expect
performances from me every time they come to see a film with me.
Q. Is
that tough on you?
A. Very tough. Though I've pursued and explored
performance-oriented characters throughout my career, the job is getting tougher
now. We've a fresh crop of directors who watch cinema from all over the world on
the internet and then expect themselves and their actors to match up to those
international standards. The other day a director came to me with a Danish film
for reference. I had never heard of it. I actually sat and watched the film to
know what he wanted.
Q. Isn't this rather sad that our cinema looks
increasingly westwards for approval? Aren't we losing touch with our own
cultural heritage?
A. It isn't sad. It's the reality. If we want to keep
up with the rest of the world we have to match global standards. And trust me,
we are not losing our cultural identity. There are so many youngsters who come
up to me and talk about my characters in "Gangs Of Wasseypur" and "Aligarh".
These are films that are as Indian as they can get.
Q. Speaking of
"Aligarh", it remains my most favourite performance of yours?
A.
Loneliness was a new emotion for me. I've never experienced loneliness in my
life. The professor in "Aligarh" was isolated by choice. Give him his Lata
Mangeshkar songs and two pegs of rum and he was fine in his own company. I
consider it the first in my trilogy of loneliness. I've done two more film that
explore the dynamics of loneliness. One is "Bhosle" which I've just completed
with director Devashish Makhija It's the story of a retired police constable. We
had a tough time getting producers for the project. Finally we've somehow
managed to get the funds to complete the film.
Q. And the third film on
loneliness?
A. The third film in my loneliness trilogy is Deepesh Jain's
"Gali Galaiyan" ("In The Shadows"). It is the most difficult character I've ever
portrayed in my entire career. I play a man rapidly losing hold of reality. We
shot the film in Old Delhi in complete isolation. I was locked away from all
communication for weeks. I didn't even tell my immediate family where I was.
Q. Your wife Shabana didn't know where you were?
A. She knew I was
shooting in Delhi, but that's about it. I was completely secluded. By the time
we finished shooting I felt I was losing my mind. "Gali Galaiyan" is my most
challenging role and film. The director Deepesh and I will now take it to
festivals all across the world before releasing it in India.
Q. Do you
still find it difficult to bridge that gap between mainstream and non-mainstream
cinema?
A. Not any more. There are no separate rules for mainstream and
non-mainstream acting. I am not asked to give a different style of performance
in commercial cinema. In fact I am doing three major commercial films this year.
One is Milap Zaveri's film where John Abraham and I will share some very intense
scenes. I've asked Milap to write in some performance-oriented scenes for me
since that's what audiences expect from me. I am also in "Baaghi 2".
Q. I
didn't know that!
A. Yes, the director Ahmed Khan is a very dear old
friend of mine. When he asked me to do a role I happily agreed. It is a small
role. The film focuses on Tiger Shroff. But whatever I've done in the film I am
happy with. The team took good care of me.
Q. What is it like shooting
with Abhishek Choubey for "Son Chiraiya"?
A. That's my third commercial
film this year. I loved Abhishek's work in "Dedh Ishqiya" and was keen to work
with him. Again, mine is not the central role. But it's a very interesting
character. Actually this is a very opportune time for me. I am doing exactly the
work I want.
Q. Are you happy with the progress you have made?
A.
Very content. My target has always been challenging roles. And they continue to
come to me. In my new release "Aiyaary", I play an army man for the first time.
This was an entirely new world for me. My director Neeraj Pandey helped me to
enter and understand that world. With Neeraj, I feel I share a bonding that goes
beyond cinema.We come from similar cultural backgrounds. I like to sit with
Neeraj and share conversations on life and movies. We've worked well together in
the past.I feel we've done something special in "Aiyaary".
Q. Apparently
"Aiyaary" got delayed at the censor board?
A I've been told not to talk
about this There were minor changes required as per the Defence Ministry's
requirements. Those changes were made. Still we didn't have the censor
certificate in our hands on time. So we postponed the release by a week.
Q. Do you feel the change of guard at the CBFC has made any difference?
A. It cannot! Until the guidelines change nothing will make a difference. My
films have been chronic sufferers at the censor board. I've spoken enough on
censorship.
Q. What other plans for 2018?
A. I am producing a
short film with my wife Shabana and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead. It's being
directed by Suparn Varma with whom I've worked earlier. I am also doing a web
series called "A family Man" with the directorial duo Raj & DK. It's an entirely
new unexplored world for me. I plan to devote four months this year to shooting
it. Then I will take a break for a few months to spend time with my daughter and
wife. I think I've earned my time away.