Bollywood's best actor Manoj Bajpayee is in a lot of headlines these days for the web series 'The Family Man 2'. While the series is winning the hearts of the audience, Manoj Bajpayee, who became Shrikant Tiwari, is also garnering a lot of praise. In such a situation, from his early days till the topic of 'The Family Man 3', Manoj Bajpayee had a special conversation with Hindustan.
When did you decide that you wanted to become an actor?
I have wanted to become an actor since childhood. My parents were very fond of movies and used to take me to show movies too. Whenever I used to watch movies, I used to think that I have to do the same. I did not feel much in studies and writing, but I used to enjoy more drama and poetry readings, etc.
You were seen for about 2 minutes in the film Drohkaal, tell us something about it?
Till that time I was not in Mumbai and used to do theater in Delhi. I had done a decent role in Bandit Queen in the last days of theater. When I came to Mumbai, I went to Govind Nihalani Ji, because I had heard that he was casting for a film. My very dear friend Ashish Vidyarthi was doing a big role in that film. I went to Nihalani Ji and met him and he said that I do not have any role and the roles you have are not worthy of you, because you have done theater and worked with Shekhar Kapur. So I said whatever role you have, give it to me. After that, he gave me that role with great hesitation. I was thinking that I just had to be on the set, will see Naseer Sahab and Om Puri Sahab, and Govind Ji will direct me, what better thing can be done than this. At that time there was no choice except that role, whereas Govind Ji did not want me to do that role.
What was your first reaction when The Family Man (Part One) was offered to you?
When I was shown two or three episodes of Family Maine, I understood that the content was great and knew that the series would be a hit if the audience liked Shrikant Tiwari. I am fortunate that people related themselves with Shrikant Tiwari, people started seeing themselves in Shrikant. Because of this, the first season was a huge success. I guess we couldn't have dreamed of crossing it. But what this is getting is historic. I would say that this is Satya, Gangs of Wasseypur, Bahubali in the world of the series. We just have to work ahead and don't expect such success to continue. We just want to do good work.
Many scenes of the series are going viral on social media, did you ever think about it while shooting?
I was sure people would love the office scene. Because the corporate sectors have a culture, there is a lot of demand to deliver. Along with this, the young people who give you knowledge, everyone gets angry with it. I knew it was going to be a huge hit but didn't think it would relate so much. This is something new, we didn't know it would be received like this. Something different is happening, something new is happening. We were not ready for this either.
When will 'The Family Man 3' release?
Maybe we would have shot for season 3, had it not been for Corona. Due to Covid, the post-production of season 2 itself took a long time. Along with this, Raj and DK were also busy with other works, which they had already committed. Once all of us start talking, then it's writing, etc. will also go ahead. It will take time due to the lockdown and Covid.
What are the criteria for selecting characters?
One thing is important for me, will I be able to do something new with this character, can I try something new with this character? Or what people have done, that will come. If I think something new can happen then go ahead with it. I didn't want to go through the earlier contents of Family Man, I had done that and was looking for something new. I didn't know what I was looking for but knew what I wasn't looking for. At that time Mukesh Chhabra called me and said that Raj and DK want to meet me. After that we met in a restaurant, then he gave me the synopsis and after twenty minutes I said that I will do it. I had an idea how I would perform it, how I could innovate it. I just had to practice, the rest is in front of you.
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