Manoj Bajpayee to turn producer soon

After wearing grease paint for almost two decades, National Award winning actor Manoj Bajpai is keen to take a plunge into filmmaking business and turn producer. He feels producing movies "will give me a lot of power".

His career took off in a big way post the success of "Satya", which not only won him commercial success, but the prestigious National Award too. Post the crime saga, he did commendable jobs in "Kaun?", "Shool" and Chandraprakash Dwivedi directed period drama "Pinjar", which once again won him a National Award.

Later his career took a dip, but "Raajneeti", "Chakravyuh" and "Gangs of Wasseypur" have resurrected it. He is now going strength to strength and seems to widen his horizon.

"Tomorrow, if I have money, I will definitely turn producer. Production will definitely give me a lot of freedom to do what I want to do. Whether it's a mainstream or anything else..., production will give me a lot of power," Manoj told IANS.

"I will definitely get into production soon. Let's see when that happens," added the actor who enjoys a niche audience.

Taking a realistic approach towards the masses' craziness for stars like Salman Khan, the 43-year-old said he cannot compete with the star.

"I can't be Salman Khan because there is only one Salman. Look at his charm, his charisma. He is for the masses. He just comes on the screen and people go mad. It happens with Rajinikanth in South. It doesn't happens with every star. This is something that is God gifted. I can't compete with that," said the actor.

He is currently busy promoting "Special Chabbis". Directed by Neeraj Pandey, the film features Anupam Kher and Akshay Kumar in prominent roles.