Manoj Bajpayee: Don’t want the tag of a ‘superstar’

Having been a part of the Hindi film industry for more than three decades, Manoj Bajpayee has given some phenomenal performances in films like, ‘Satya’, ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Bhonsle’, ‘Aligarh’ and many others. However, it is ‘The Family Man’ that has catapulted him into a new realm of fame. No wonder he is being called the ‘streaming superstar’ of India today.
In a freewheeling interview with ETimes, Bajpayee reveals why he is reluctant to accept the tag of a superstar, the kind of projects he wants to be a part of and more. Excerpts…

You have added another National Award to your kitty after the last time we spoke to you in 2020. How does it feel?
It always feels great to be honoured and respected at that level. I also felt very happy for my director Devashish Makhija and all the producers who have put so much faith in the film ‘Bhonsle’ and our conviction. So it was like poetic justice for me.

Would it be wrong if we say the year 2021 has been bittersweet for you? You incurred a loss on your personal front (your beloved father passing away) but professionally you were on a roll.
Yes, it was a mixed bag of emotion for me. What has to happen in life, happens. I have always been very close to my father. He was my strength. He was someone who has never questioned my choices. We shared a brotherly relationship. We used to confide in each other. I shared a lot about my profession and he understood because he was a film buff. Although he was a farmer, he was the one who introduced me to cinema and the great performances of Dilip Kumar sahab, Bajraj Sahani, Guru Dutt and others. He used to explain what is good acting and bad acting. For me, his demise was a loss that I cannot describe in words.

At the same time, you are right, God has been kind. Audiences have loved all my choices on the professional front. I have been enjoying work quite a lot, especially on OTT. Life has to move on. Everything that I do is a tribute to my father.

What has your reaction been to all the positive reviews you have been receiving for ‘The Family Man’ season 2?
My reaction has been of utmost happiness. Season one was a runaway success and it created a lot of stars. People went crazy after season one. Season two surpassed season one and my happiness knew no bounds. I was very happy not only for me but also for my co-stars and director who are so talented and have so many new things to offer. ‘The Family Man 2’ becoming the fourth most popular show globally is an achievement for the entire country.

Although there was a controversy over whether the subject around which season 2 revolves will be handled appropriately, it was able to do justice without hurting any sentiments. Do you feel people in India have become a bit intolerant towards cinema’s reflection of society?
Without even watching a frame of it, people just assume that there is going to be something that will be offensive to them. Without caring to see the whole thing, they just chose to go ahead and get into the mode of intimidation. They instill fear in the minds and hearts of creative people. I was not afraid but it pained me. When the series was released, everyone’s questions were answered and then everything was alright. Although all this was unnecessary, I am happy that at the end of the day, they were happy with the content.

We all are responsible people. We don’t make films or series to offend people. We make them tell a story, to entertain. That is our prime objective. I agree though that sometimes our creative interpretations do not match the opinion of a few people. But that doesn’t mean that we are here to offend people. At the end of the day, it is just a creative piece. It is up to you to decide if you want to watch it or not. And that is your right.

People are the same. It is just that now that they are empowered by social media. They find it easy to use this vehicle to show their outrage and disagreement. But I personally believe that people have always been of the same nature.

We have seen Srikant Tiwari torn between his family life and profession. As Manoj Bajpayee, what comes first for you?
For me, family is of utmost importance. I am lucky that I have a very understanding family.

In one of your interviews, you mentioned that your daughter never liked the kind of films that did but she loved ‘The Family Man’.
It is not that my daughter doesn’t like my films, it is just that she has watched a very few films of mine. She has seen ‘Budhia Singh: Born to Run’ and she loved it. She was able to see ‘The Family Man’ with some guidance and she loved that too. I hope that in future I am offered a few films that are right for the audience of my daughter’s age to watch.

You are being touted as the streaming superstar of India today. How does that make you feel?
I was never after superstardom. It is not something that you plan on achieving. It has happened to people without them realising. I am happy that all the independent films, OTT films, middle of the road cinema, short films and the OTT series – whatever I have been doing over the years, most of them found some takers in the audience. I have always been getting a lot of love from the work that I have done.

Yes, it has been a rollercoaster ride, also because I kept on jumping from one genre to another, one medium to another. I have left the audience wondering about what I am going to do next. This is what I always wanted from my career. I never wanted to be the typical mainstream hero. I wanted to have a career as an actor who is unpredictable in his choices and who goes in and tries to do justice to every genre and subject he chooses to work on.

I am not a superstar. I keep reiterating the fact that I am not after stardom and it is not my humility. I don’t even want this tag. Give it to someone else who is much more deserving. When it comes to work, give me all the great work. I will be very happy doing justice to the roles I get. That is all that I want from my career.

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