Actor Manoj Bajpayee on friendships, marriage and his journey in B’town
Deebashree Mohanty (TIMES LIFE; June 10, 2018)

Your idea of a perfect day...
When I wake up at 5 am, spend time with my wife (Shabana aka Neha) and daughter (Ava) over chai nashta, and head out for a shoot. On an ideal day, the shoot should last till about 8 pm, and then I should come back home to simply chill.

And your idea of chilling is...
Usually with family and friends, eating Thai food. Although these days, we have taken a liking to Chinese cuisine because my daughter dotes on it.

Is it a Herculean task to have friendships in Bollywood?
I don’t think so. It’s people who complicate matters. You are a friend till the moment you become too self-indulgent. But if you can focus on the other person (your friend), his/her achievements, grief and journey; you’ll stay a friend. But how many of us do it? We keep gloating about our laurels, talking about our struggles…

Is your affable nature a reason for your strong marriage?
Oh no! Marriage is a completely different ball game. The secret to a happy marriage is only known to God and it’s a closely-guarded secret. Sometimes, people think they are doing all the right things but the relationship goes awry. You can’t afford to take your partner for granted ever; that’s what I’ve learnt. And Shabana has been a patient partner through my good and bad days. She is that support system who would pull me up for doing a bad role or a movie just because I had to fend for the family.

What are you working towards now?
Thankfully, I am a man of very few needs. The most expensive thing that I have ever bought for us is the apartment we live in. If I bought expensive jewellery or perfumes for my wife, she would think I have gone crazy. Give me an amount which I require for life and I will be a happy man. As long as my family can live a comfortable life, I would prefer good roles over hefty pay packets. If I had that luxury, I would limit my work simply because I’m very lazy.

How has your relationship been with Mumbai?
I am not cut out for big cities at all. I want to go back to my village (in Bihar), employ two boys to attend to calls, take printouts of the script for me to read and finalise upon. I would just travel for work. Unfortunately, it’s just a dream.

How would you suggest one keeps in touch with inner self?
By closing your eyes and not thinking about anything. Try doing this for 5 minutes every day. I call this my theory of nothing! It detoxes my mind.

What has changed in the industry since Satya?
A lot has changed. You are talking to Manoj Bajpayee; that is the biggest change. I don’t think anyone would have bothered to give a second look to me if the industry hadn’t progressed. Young actors have created a niche space for themselves. They may not be making the same kind of moolah as the bigger stars but everyone has work, which is good.

Do you think the struggle for newcomers is not as tough?
I envy Rajkummar Rao. He is a good friend and an extremely talented actor. But I do feel he has entered the industry at the right age and right time. He has so much to choose from whereas we had to struggle for a good role even of a few minutes.

QUICK TAKE

A director you’d love to work with…
Mexican film director Alejandro González Iñárritu. His films are quite edgy.

Snapchat, Instagram or Twitter?
Twitter... because it only allows you to say a few words.

How important is travel?
Travel is a great education. It teaches social skills and gets you into the habit of exploring.

Next stop
LA and San Francisco.

Detox food
Khichdi, any day.

One film you wish you were a part of in recent times?
Kenneth Lonergan’s Manchester by the Sea. Casey Affleck has played his character beautifully.

Movies that aspiring actors should watch
Mughal-e-Azam, Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam, Kagaz Ke Phool… as many times as possible.

Films every movie enthusiast should watch
Godfather 2, On The Waterfront, any film by Martin Scorcese.