Manoj Bajpayee: I Won’t Play A Young Lover

MUMBAI- Critically acclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee was recently asked, “These days, a lot of actors from your era are doing romantic films. Do you also wish to do any kind of romantic role?”

The actor, known for his role in ‘Gangs of Wasseypur,’ responded, “Definitely you can’t imagine me doing a 25-year-old falling in love with a 20-year-old girl. I will personally not touch or take that kind of risk in this life.

But if there is a good script and the role is age-appropriate, why not? Love doesn’t limit itself to age, right?

So, if there is a very fine script which has a romantic story about two middle-aged people, why not.”

Bajpayee also revealed that he enjoys embracing real-life, middle-class characters, which he feels resonate with the audience. He added that observing everyday people brings authenticity to his roles, making acting a rich and fulfilling experience.

“I enjoy doing these roles, I enjoy playing common people because I relate to them,” he said.

“Each and every character that I read, I feel like I have seen them somewhere – in real life, in a documentary, in my initial days in Mumbai, in the train.”

Recalling his theatre days, the ‘The Family Man’ actor shared an anecdote. “Once I spoke to a director and I said, ‘We can’t be observing all the time, people will eventually beat us up – Why are you looking at me?’”

He made it very easy, he said, “Observation is such a big part of an actor’s personality that even if he is not looking at someone, he is observing. So, make it a part of your personality.”

Bajpayee concluded, “So we actors are like that- we are observers of our own life, we are observers of people’s life, what’s happening in society.” (IANS)

(Courtesy: https://indiawest.com/)