Manoj Bajpayee reveals Yash Chopra paid him lead actor fee for Veer Zaara cameo

Manoj Bajpayee (Pic/Instagram)

Starring Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, Veer-Zaara went on to become a cult classic. The film also features Manoj Bajpayee in a cameo role. Manoj Bajpayee has shared an interesting anecdote about working with legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra. The actor revealed that despite playing only a cameo, he was paid the same fee he usually charged for a lead role. He also recalled Yash Chopra's candid response when he asked for a bigger part.

Manoj Bajpayee on Veer Zaara fees

During his conversation with Shekhar, Manoj revealed that after the success of Satya, he turned down several lucrative film offers because most of the roles being offered to him were villainous characters. When Shekhar asked if he regretted his cameo in Veer-Zaara, Manoj stated, "Yash ji called me up, and he asked, ‘There's a cameo role in my film. Would you do it? After watching Pinjar, I felt that you are the only one who could pull off this role.' I didn't even want to hear the script from him because I wanted to be directed by him."

He further added that he requested Yash ji to offer him a bigger role, and instead of giving false hope, the filmmaker paid him an amount similar to what lead stars received. He said, "I told Yash ji, ‘The next time you think of me, please give me a bigger role.' He replied very clearly, ‘Son, I don't really make films for actors like you. And even if there are roles for you in my films, you probably won't do them. So just do this one properly and do it well.' I liked that he never promised me anything. I told him I wouldn't take any fee, but he said, ‘I will give it to you,' and Yash Chopra sent me the same amount that I used to take for doing a lead role in a movie."

Manoj Bajpayee upcoming movies

The actor recently starred in Vipul Shah's Governor. He plays the role of RBI officer A. Ramanan. Telling the story of India's 1991 financial crisis, the film highlights the inspiring journey of an unsung hero who played a pivotal role in steering the nation out of the crisis.

Up next, he is reuniting with Ram Gopal Verma for Police Station Mein Bhoot. It stars Bajpayee as an honest cop who kills a notorious gangster, only to get possessed by the criminal's spirit.