Manoj Bajpayee: Performance-driven actors will be at par with superstars

Manoj BajpayeeIn 2016 a 1015 line monologue by intelligence agent Ranvir Singh convincing Taapsee Pannus Shabana in Naam Shabana was proving to be onerous for Manoj Bajpayee Unrelenting director Neeraj Pandey had kept him going for 10 takes and demanded yet another That the role was offered to Bajpayee on a platter mdash Pandey literally permitted him to select his character mdash had made the feat even more cumbersome Any other actor in my place would have crumbled says Bajpayee who was up for the challenge that the filmmaker hurled at him And it certainly was one given that Pandey even refused to point out what it was that was going amiss He only says Second take third take fourth take He is always looking for something but the actor will never know what that is Bajpayee saysThat his acting prowess is challenged 25 years into his career implies that Bajpayee welcomes a collaboration with Pandey His fifth association the forthcoming Missing with Tabu sees Pandey as producer while the sixth Aiyaary has him wield the directors baton The intellectual fodder that they offer each other implies that Bajpayee is sure to pick up a conversation with the filmmaker daily even when they arent filming Every week we also grab dinner together at his office or at a restaurant where stories and ideas make for discussion Eversooften he sends across a copy of his script for my opinion He pays heed to them on some occasions he rejects them on the others We are similar intellectually He understands my dreams and expectations as an actor and I trust him But generally we dont interfere in one anothers businessBajpayee with wife Neha and daughter AvaEven as he awaits the February 9 release of Pandeys Aiyaary the actor has his hands full with three other ventures each of which interestingly is targeted at a distinct audience While Dipesh Jains In The Shadows has been appeasing the festivalgoing audience Sajid Nadiawalas Baaghi 2 hopes to draw viewers of mainstream cinema Bajpayee also has Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DKs The Family Man set for a digital outing a platform he touts as the next big thing Evidently basking under the glory of the limitless offers he credits the growth of contextually strong cinema for the increasing attention that cinematic talents have been acquiring We are finally heading towards a time when performancedriven actors will be at par with superstars And that was exactly what the fight was about The fight was never about mainstream cinema versus arthouse films We just wanted an industry where all sorts of actors could coexist and were heading thereNeeraj PandeyYet the eventual exhaustion of commercial cinema is unlikely given the farreaching effects of mainstream films It commercial cinema is a genre that is important It reaches small towns villages and multiplexes too But because of the changing world especially the growth of the internet theres a large audience looking for great content as well As a result you get to see films like Aligarh and Budhia Singh The demand for great content he says is coupled with the desire to see stronger performance from actors of his kind Viewers want actors who are known to deliver with their performances to be at par with Western artistes Also their demand from every actor is different They want to see a Salman Khan in a film like Tiger Zinda Hai When they come to see Manoj Bajpayee they want him Bajpayee surprise them with new acts So our job is to be really good in every role And fortunately while a Tiger Zinda Hai is working a Newton is too And this is healthy There has always been a Robert De Niro and an Al Pacino but there has also always been a Tom CruiseWhile his fans would be up for a debate Bajpayee insists he has never been a talented actor Harbouring the love for the craft since childhood he says he knew he would need to offset his perceived lack of flair with toil I need to work hard to recite every single line I keep practicing it quietly before Im required to deliver it Also I work on understanding the backstory of my character If there isnt one I try to create it Because I hold on to it for long I cant switch on and switch off For me if its switched on it is on for a long timeA busy schedule sees Bajpayee neckdeep in work until August But after that he intends to take a fourmonth sabbatical to refuel himself for his forthcoming commitments Its an essential for an actor if she wishes to be ready for every venture says the actor as he goes on to spill the beans on how he intends to unwindI have already started learning to cook Ive realised that it is something that I am slowly growing interested in I want to cook meals for my daughter and surprise her with one dish or another I want to give her the memory of her fathers dishesCatch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip hereDownload the new midday Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go