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Today is Manoj Bajpayee's 55th birthday. Born in a small village in Bihar, Manoj's first dream was to become an actor. For this he had to roll a lot of papads from the very beginning. He had resorted to lies to reach Delhi for NSD. He had told his parents that he was going to Delhi to prepare for IAS.
Breaking the shackles of so many obstacles, Manoj has made his place in the film industry.
Read the story of becoming Manoj Bajpayee in 10 stories…
Story 1- Used to collect money to drink cold drinks
Manoj Bajpayee was born on 23 April 1969 in Belwa, Bihar. He was the second among 5 brothers and sisters. Manoj's father was a farmer. In such a situation, the financial condition of the family was not very good. Manoj loved cold drinks and kebabs since childhood, but did not have enough money to eat all this.
While passing by a cold drink shop or a kebab shop, he would just keep looking at these things. They used to think in their mind that once they have collected some money, they will enjoy both these things. Then whenever he had money, the first thing he would do was drink cold drinks and eat kebabs with the remaining money.
Manoj Bajpayee with father and mother. Manoj's father was a farmer by profession, while his mother was a housewife.
Story 2- Father wanted to become a doctor, he was sent to hostel at the age of 7.
Father was a farmer. As a result, Manoj also had to work from plowing the fields to transplanting. However, the father never wanted his children to do farming. The earning was less, but he taught all the children well.
Father wanted Manoj to become a doctor. The reason behind his desire was that he himself wanted to become a doctor, but the lack of Rs 5 lakh did not allow his dream to be fulfilled. This was the reason why 7 year old Manoj was sent to the hostel.
Manoj had revealed in The Anupam Kher Show that he still has a complaint against his parents for this matter. He had said- Even today I tell my parents that I should not have been sent to a hostel at such a young age. All the older kids there used to tease me a lot.
Story: Had decided to go to NSD in class 3-5
The father had thought that his son would become a doctor, but Manoj never had anything else in his mind except acting. No one in the family was related to the film industry, but Manoj's parents were very fond of watching films. In his childhood, Manoj had also watched films like 'Jai Santoshi Maa' 6-7 times with his parents.
With increasing age, Manoj's passion for acting increased, but he did not know what to do in future. Around 5th class, he read interviews of Raj Babbar, Ompuri and Naseeruddin Shah. All three of them had mentioned about NSD in this interview of Life Journey.
After reading this, Manoj came to know that after graduation he can go to NSD to study acting. At that very moment he decided that in future he would study acting in NSD only.
Story 4- Went to Delhi after lying to his family about becoming an IAS
After passing 12th, Manoj went to Delhi, but he reached here by telling a lie. Manoj's parents do not send him to Delhi with the fact that he is going to become an actor. In such a situation, he told his father – I cannot become a doctor, but I will definitely become an IAS and I have to go to Delhi to prepare for it.
Hearing this, his family sent him to Delhi. After spending 2-3 years in Delhi, Manoj thought of telling the truth to his family. He wrote a letter to his father telling him that he had come to Delhi to become an actor.
However, the answer that father gave to Manoj was quite funny. He wrote- Dear son Manoj. I am your father. I know you are destined to become an actor.
Manoj started laughing after reading this.
This picture is from the time when Manoj Bajpayee used to do theater in Mandi House, Delhi.
Story 5- Friends were afraid that Manoj would commit suicide after not getting admission in NSD.
Manoj took admission in Delhi University for graduation and started doing street theater on the side. After completion of graduation, when he gave NSD exam for the first time, he failed.
He was disappointed by this. His condition became worse due to crying. He had even lost hope of living. Seeing his condition, his friends were afraid that he would do something wrong with himself. For this reason, some friend or the other was always present with him.
After recovering from this grief, he gave the NSD exam again, but failed again. At this time Manoj joined Barry John's acting school. Where along with learning acting, he also taught acting to children with a fee of Rs 1500.
After learning the tricks of acting from Barry John, he appeared for the NSD exam for the third time. This time the professor there said – We cannot take you as a student, but if you wish, you can work here as a teacher.
Story 6- By luck, I got my first film Bandit Queen.
One day Manoj was rehearsing, when Tigmanshu Dhulia approached him. He told Manoj – Shekhar Kapur wants to meet you in connection with a film.
Manoj was shocked to hear this and said – Brother, don't joke, anyway the time is not going well.
On this Tigmanshu said- I am telling the truth. He has seen your photo and wants to meet you in connection with the film Bandit Queen.
Hearing this, Manoj went to meet Shekhar Kapur. After the meeting, he was offered the role of Vikram Mallah in the film, but after some time this role went to Nirmal Pandey. Seeing this once again Manoj's heart broke.
Only a few days had passed since this happened. He was shooting in Kolkata. Then he got a call from Tigmanshu – you come to Delhi quickly. Naseer Sahab has refused to play the role of Mansingh. Shekhar Kapur wants to cast you in this role in his place.
Manoj was overjoyed to hear this and thus became a part of the film Bandit Queen.
Story 7- Had to live in a chawl in Mumbai, had no money even for food
Manoj got 50 thousand rupees for this film. With the help of which he reached Mumbai along with Saurabh Shukla and other colleagues. Here he lived in a chawl with seven friends. From 1993 to 1997, he spent these years in various ways. He had told in an interview that this period was the worst period of his life.
There was no proper place to live and no money for food. Used to lie alone in the room the whole day. The whole day was spent in visiting the offices of big directors and producers. During this period he did not even get work in any big project.
Story 8- Mahesh Bhatt stopped me from leaving the industry
With great difficulty Manoj got work in the TV show 'Swabhiman'. Here he was getting Rs 1500 per day. Earlier he was approached for only 10 episodes. Even after this, Manoj had a desire to work on the big screen. He was becoming weaker every day due to the struggle. As a result, he had decided to leave the industry.
Meanwhile, Mahesh Bhatt saw his work in the show 'Swabhiman'. He was very impressed by Manoj's work. He met Manoj. During the conversation they came to know that Manoj wanted to leave the industry. On this he said- You wait a little more. You are a great actor, made for this city and cinema. Soon this struggle of yours will end.
Story 9- Ram Gopal Varma was searching for Manoj for Satya for 5 years
What Mahesh Bhatt said proved to be true after some time. Soon Manoj got a job in the film Run. During the shooting of this film he met Ram Gopal Varma. When he came to know that Manoj had played the role of Mansingh in the film Bandit Queen, he stood up from his chair. Manoj said- Where were you for so many days. I have been searching for you for the last 5 years. I want to make a film with you.
It was only after this meeting that Manoj became a part of Ram Gopal Varma's film Satya. Thanks to this film, there was a turning point in his career.
Manoj played the role of Bhikhu Mhatre in the film Satya. The film was directed by Ram Gopal Varma. This film received 6 Filmfare Awards and 1 National Award.
Story 10- Struggled for 7 years even after Satya, career came back on track through film politics
After Satya, from 1999 to 2003, Manoj got good roles in films, but after that he again started struggling for good roles. This struggle continued for 7 years. From 2003 to 2010, he kept searching for good roles. It was not that he did not get work during this period, he did get work but it was not of his choice. After such a long struggle, his career from film politics was back on track.
Then in 2012, the film Gangs of Wasseypur was released, which made Manoj a star overnight.
Manoj played the role of Virendra Pratap in the film Raajneeti directed by Prakash Jha. Artists like Ajay Devgan, Arjun Rampal, Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor were also featured in the film. Made for Rs 45 crore, this film had collected Rs 145.50 crore.
After 2010, 2022 was the only year in which no Manoj film was released. He was a part of great films like Special 26, Shootout at Wadala, Satyagraha, Talwar, Baaghi 2, Satyamev Jayate.
From 2019 to 2023, a total of 8 films of Manoj have been released. Out of which only 3 films Sonchiriya, Suraj Par Mangal Bhari and Zoram have been released in theatres. All other films were streamed on OTT. His 7 web series have also come on OTT.
Now let's talk about Manoj Bajpayee's love story…
Married twice, first marriage lasted only 2 months
Manoj's first marriage was with a girl from Delhi. He did this marriage when he was struggling. However, this marriage broke up within 2 months. Reports claim that Manoj was struggling, due to which his marriage broke, but he did not let it affect his career and continued the struggle.
After entering the film world, he met actress Neha, whose real name is Shabana Raza. Manoj had told in an interview that he had seen Shabana for the first time at Hansal Mehta's party. As soon as he saw Shabana, he fell in love at first sight.
Manoj Bajpayee with wife Shabana and daughter. Manoj married Shabana in 2006. He had told in an interview to Barkha Dutt that his family members were not angry at his marriage with a Muslim girl.
The thing that attracted them the most about Shabana was that she had reached the party with only oil in her hair. In an industry where people are very hesitant about their looks, Shabana did just the opposite. Manoj was very impressed by this.
Then even after this party, Manoj and Shabana met several times. After some time of friendship, both of them got into a relationship and after dating for about 7 years, both of them got married.
