Manoj Bajpayee Recalls The Time Of Struggle At The Start Of His Career

Award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee is feted for his work in acclaimed films such as Satya, Aligarh, and Gangs of Wasseypur. The actor once faced a period of struggle and humiliation in his career. In an interview, Bajpayee reflected on his early days in Mumbai, where he would give his photos to assistant directors who would promptly throw them into a bin right in front of him. However, Bajpayee refused to let this humiliation break him. And instead worked on characters from stories appearing in the daily newspaper, performing for friends in the evening. He also incorporated learnings from street theatre and the National School of Drama into his roles.

Bajpayee's latest film, Bhonsle, mirrors his own migration experience from Bihar's Belwa to Mumbai. It portrays the monumental struggles faced by actors who leave their homes and families to find work in a new city. The film also touches on the process of assimilation into a new home, the loss and identity issue migrants face, and the evolution of humans. Bajpayee notes that Mumbai can be ruthless for those without work or friends. He says that times of struggle and disappointment can be horrific and break you. But when success hits, the city engulfs you completely. Despite the challenges he faced, Bajpayee persisted and has gone on to win National Film Awards. They were won for his work in Satya, Pinjar, and Bhonsle. He was last seen in the film Gulmohar with veteran actor Sharmila Tagore. He will reportedly begin work on the third season of his Prime Video series The Family Man.