The fall and rise of an actor

Manoj Bajpai will soon be seen in Hansal Mehta’s Aligarh. He plays Prof. Ramchandra Siras, a linguist with the Aligarh Muslim University, who committed suicide following a sting operation which allegedly caught him in a compromising position with a man. Siras’ death remains an extremely controversial chapter in India’s history and Bajpai is confident the film will have impact.

“A great role is good enough for me to do it. I have never thought about society or audience when I decide to take up a role. In theatre I have played the role of a netua, a man that dances in the garb of a woman. I learnt semi-classical dance for months and it was a rage in theatre. I was excited by the idea of the Aligarh... not even once did I ask myself how I’m going to look or how Hansal is going to shoot it. As an actor it’s not our job to judge any role and I’m not judgemental as a person either.”

Also, Manoj only surfaces when his films release. “I don’t make friends so easily. No matter how great the actor you are. People will only judge you by the work that you do, that day. I kept on slipping into my own world after I had been criticised and panned after two to three films I had done. So much insult came my way those days that I realised only my work will prove what my intention is. All this kept on making me more private. What I do is that I get up at 6am, and after a bit of exercise, I drop my daughter to school, come back and call new talents or the directors I want to work with. I still behave like a struggler and I consider myself one. I call up directors and ask for work,” he says.

Is he an underrated actor? I meet everybody with all honesty and there is no pretence. I know the areas I need grow in. I’m also not rattled by anyone’s criticism. Some years ago, a couple of reviews rattled me but I have kept those with me for inspiration —  when you hit a bad time they can be this ruthless. I remember, when I used to go to events, they would turn the camera away or switch it off. Why? Because what they saw was a commercial success or failure. What they didn’t know was that Manoj was giving time to work on his craft, that he was taking time out to see the world. For the rest, it was a bad time but for me, it was the most constructive time,” he says.

There were worries too. “Yes, there are moments when you start getting worried about the bank balance. But we find a way to fill that up again. That is not a bad time. Bad time was when I came here and I had no work.”

His daughter is five now and he wants her to see Aligarh when she grows up.

“I would love to show Aligarh to her. I really want growing minds to watch Aligarh.”

And wife Shabana Raza remains his biggest critic. “My wife she is ruthless, and she appreciates too. She takes great pride and she doesn’t behave like one of those ‘industry people’ and puts me on the right track. She is a great leveller that way.”