With remarkable performances in Gulmohar, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai and Joram, Manoj Bajpayee surely had a great 2023. Besides earning critical acclaim and several awards, the actor created history as Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai became the first film to release in theatres after a successful run on OTT. Looking back at the year, Bajpayee takes a sigh of relief and says, “I am happy that with this year, all my pre-pandemic commitments are over.”

While one may see it as three back-to-back successful performances, the actor looks beyond that. “What’s remarkable is that within one year, people saw me play three diverse characters — one from the privileged class (Gulmohar), one from the middle class (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai) and one from the downtrodden class (Joram). That’s my achievement. Showing that every human [irrespective of the class] is conflicted and vulnerable, and that everyone has their own struggles was fulfilling as an actor,” he explains.

Having played such diverse roles, ask if there was a takeaway for him, and the 54-year-old shares, “My takeaway is the education that I get during the making of those characters. It could be through the conversations I had with the directors or during my research for the roles. For example, during Joram, I got to understand about people living on the margins and what displacement does to a person.”

What made the year even more special for him were the film festivals, where his movies were applauded: “It feels good to be appreciated. However, despite all the praise, releasing those films in theatre is a different ball game. After the pandemic, the kind of content being consumed has changed, as most people want to see potboilers. So, when a film like Joram impresses the audience and is liked so much that they become promoters of the film and give shout-outs, it’s far greater than any box-office numbers. It’s an indication of the great time ahead.”