From playing a CBI officer in ‘Special 26’ to a gangster in ‘Shootout at Wadala’ (SAW), Manoj Bajpayee is on a roll.
With just ten scenes in SAW, the actor didn’t expect any criticism or appreciation for his role. He says, “I’m happy that the film did well. Everyone benefits from a successful film. But I’m quite elated and humbled that people loved Manoj Bajpayee’s ten scenes. To be very honest, I was not expecting anything from this film – neither appreciation nor criticism. I did it purely for my friend Sanjay Gupta. And since the beginning, I knew I have only ten scenes. So, there was no point of me expecting something great out of the movie. But the huge response that I have got for my tiny role is inspiring and encouraging for me as an actor.”
A better Bhojpuri speaker than many Biharis Manoj went to Patna this year to participate in the Patna Literature Festival. Proudly, calling himself a Bihari, Manoj says, “I love being in Bihar. I am very strongly attached to my roots. I feel like going back as frequently as I can, but of course, work doesn’t permit me. But, there is a village boy inside me which can never go away. I still speak in Bhojpuri. This is the language I speak at home. I speak better Bhojpuri than many Biharis living there.”
