Manoj Bajpayee Video Interview: I enjoy when manoj bajpayee disappears, I don't wait for the character

Since the advent of OTT, the one star whose acting has been seen by the hindi film audience is Manoj Bajpayee. Last year, Manoj showed diverse dimensions of his acting in 'Gulmohar', 'Sirf Ek Banda Kafi Hai' and 'Joram'. He also received many awards for these characters. 

Last year, you played completely different characters in ‘Gulmohar’, ‘Sirf Ek Banda Kafi Hai’, and ‘Zoram’. How difficult would it be to play such a contradictory character?

I believe that acting or any other art is not easy. I don't wait for the character to come to me, I like to go to the character. My method is a little different. I always try to look like that character when I see myself. I enjoy it. I enjoy it when manoj bajpayee disappears.

And, sometimes while doing this you get lost, and then you have to take sleeping pills.

What to do, this is the curse of being an actor. Now everyone knows about 'Gali Guliyan' but before that, if I had any mental problem after doing any character, it was after the film 'School'. I couldn't sleep. As soon as I went to sleep, I started having strange thoughts. Very violent thoughts started coming. I started feeling unwell. Now that I think about it, I wonder what it was like, and why I did it.

And, how important do you consider rehearsal before acting?

is a must. Especially if your mother tongue is not the one you are acting in. The best way to do this is to make that character a part of your system. You embrace his personality. I work with a lot of artists whose main language is not Hindi. I give them the example of Konkana Sen Sharma, to spend time and work hard in rehearsing dialogues.

Since this is happening in connection with Netflix's series 'Killer Soup', how fond are you when it comes to food? Looking at your fitness, it doesn't seem like you would have such a hobby?

Hey, I am very fond of food. I have always been fond of eating food. I am a Bihari man. Biharis generally like food very much. While having breakfast in the morning, there is a discussion about what to have for lunch..! But, I have a very new passion for making. I started cooking just five years ago. I have adapted my father's mutton recipe. Made Yakhni Pulao. Made roasted meat and for the vegetarian people I also made Aloo Parwal and Aloo Gobi. I also make fish with mustard. The food and language culture of bihar and bengal are also very close.

Do you remember the experience of that day when, after a long struggle, you got a chance to go to a five-star hotel in Mumbai?

In earlier days, there used to be gatekeepers of a special stature in five-store hotels. Long mustache, powerful data-face and…, we were doing theatre. Were called strugglers. There was no money in the pocket. I was always afraid of that mustache man that he would find out, he had no money and he would not let me go inside. Whenever an audition was being held in a hotel or some room of such a hotel, I used to be very scared as to whether I would be able to reach inside or not.

How comfortable do you feel with new directors and are your doors open to all directors who want to make their first film with you?

Remain open. I have known 'Gulmohar' director Rahul Chitela since he was with Mira (Nair). I told him that he should do his first film with me only. Similarly, I had seen a series by apoorva Singh Karki on YouTube. Only then did I understand his capability. After this, as soon as the story of 'Sirf Ek Banda Hai' came to me and he said that the director could be of my choice, I immediately called apoorva and asked, Brother, will you do the film with me? The best thing with new directors is that they forget that I have been working for three decades, they want the same reaction from me in acting that they have in their mind.