As Manoj Bajpayee celebrates three decades in the world of Hindi cinema, he takes a retrospective view, acknowledging that the journey, though appearing swift, has been a laborious one. Marking his debut in 1994 with “Droh Kaal” followed by a minor role in “Bandit Queen,” it was his portrayal of the charismatic gangster Bhiku Mhatre in “Satya” (1998) that propelled him into stardom.
Throughout his career, Bajpayee encountered numerous challenges. Yet, he attributes his enduring presence in the industry to an unwavering “extreme passion for cinema.” Reflecting on this, he expressed to PTI in an interview, “It feels like time has passed swiftly, but when you reflect, you realize it wasn’t an easy path. It was a gradual process of building, sometimes disrupted by unexpected setbacks, but my deep love and passion for my craft kept me going. I hope this beautiful journey never concludes.”
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Originating from the small village of Belwa in Bihar’s West Champaran district, Bajpayee became known for his roles in films like “Kaun?,” “Shool,” and “Pinjar” post his breakthrough in “Satya.” His performances in “Raajneeti,” “Gangs of Wasseypur,” and the portrayal of Professor Ramchandra Siras in Hansal Mehta’s “Aligarh” earned him widespread acclaim.
However, he attained household recognition with his role as an intelligence agent balancing work with family in the Prime Video series “The Family Man.” His latest venture, “Killer Soup,” a crime series set to premiere on Netflix on January 11, features Bajpayee in a dual role for the first time, reuniting with director Abhishek Chaubey.
Bajpayee lauded Chaubey’s ability to extract the best from him in performances. Despite a brief role in “Sonchiriya,” Bajpayee admired the script and mentioned that the character of Man Singh was amongst his favourites.
Expressing a shared sensibility for middle-of-the-road cinema, Bajpayee emphasized the significance of such movies in engaging audiences and serving a more profound purpose than mainstream potboilers.
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While Bajpayee has portrayed diverse characters, he particularly shines in roles that explore loneliness and inner struggles, a theme he relates to deeply. Explaining his perspective, he mentioned, “Loneliness isn’t intentional for me. It’s a subject that intrigues me—everyone, in their quieter moments, seeks something indefinable, transcending relationships or societal roles.”
“Killer Soup,” set in the fictional town of Mainjur, boasts a talented ensemble cast and is produced by Chetana Kowshik and Honey Trehan. The series promises a compelling narrative embedded in an array of stellar performances from actors such as Nasser, Sayaji Shinde, Lal, Anbuthasan, Anula Navlekar, and Kani Kusruti.
