| Fights and patch-ups are an everyday affair in B-town. But in this case, differences have now grown into a full-blown war.
The latest warring twosomes are Ram Gopal Varma and his former protg, Manoj Bajpai. Manoj has worked with Ramu in Satya, Shool and Road. But now, they have sworn never to work with each other again.
Story was leaked
It all began when Ramu called up Manoj to offer him the role of Sambha in his remake of Sholay. But a few meetings later, they decided they were better off not reviving their professional relationship. According to a city tabloid, Manoj told Ramu he wanted to play Veeru and not Sambha.
A fuming Manoj refutes this, saying, "I have never asked any director to change my role nor have I ever given trouble to any of my directors.
Ramu called me to meet him at his office. We were only talking. There were no demands being made. And how did the media come to know about what was a private meeting?"
He lets the suggestion that the news was leaked by Ramu hang in the air.
'Won't sell my soul'
Ramu has been quoted as saying he will never work with Manoj ever again. Manoj says, "Ramu's association with me is a thing of the past.
We did have a discussion, but before we could talk seriously our differences cropped up again and we said goodbye. I will not lose my dignity and self-respect for a film role. I am passionate about my work but I won't sell my soul for it. I would rather work for free than work with an egocentric man like Ramu."
Manoj gets emotional when he talks about his early days in the industry. "I was brought into this industry by Shekhar Kapur (in Bandit Queen) and was persuaded to stay on by Mahesh Bhatt (Tamanna). Ramu saw my performances and offered me Satya. I am grateful to Ramu for giving me such a big break, but not at the cost of my self-respect. We have a past and the issues can never get sorted out."
We had problems
Obviously, those issues weren't just professional. After some prodding, Manoj says, "They are not just creative differences but differences on every level.
We can't see eye to eye on anything. We had problems during Satya, patched up in Shool then parted ways again. For the last three years, we haven't communicated with each other at all, till Neha met Ramu recently and asked him to give me a role."
The actor alleges that Ramu was extremely unpleasant to his wife. "When Neha asked him why he wasn't working with me Ramu told her, 'I will give you a role but let's not mention Manoj.' Imagine that! He's talking to a wife about her husband! It was insulting but I still went to meet him out of respect to our association.
It wasn't for a role, for that I could've met him long back. In retrospect, I could never have worked with Ramu because of how insulting he was to Neha. I have respect for him as a filmmaker but that is where it ends. I am not a vindictive person. If I don't agree with people I stay away from them."
'I'm a free man'
Talking about his wife, Manoj says, "Neha has been very supportive. She always tells me, 'Don't ever compromise for money. If there's no work, we can always pack our bags and go back home (Delwa village in Bihar). I miss it a lot, especially when I'm in a crisis. At times like this, I feel like packing my bags and going back. I never expected this to be so hard when I became an actor. People are so manipulative and egoistic here.
But I can't satisfy their whims and fancies. That's not for me. My principles are all that I have today or I would have become a crorepati by now. After more than 23 years of struggling, it is only this year that I will be able afford my own flat."
Manoj's new flat is a four-bedroom apartment at Oberoi Towers in Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri. "At the moment it's being designed by my good friend, architect Shresht Kashyap. Neha is helping out as she has better aesthetic sense than me.
Shresht says that we can't shift in till it is completed fully, but I am dying to move in. If it's not ready by this year I think I will throw him out and shift in," Manoj jokes. "The flat will be a fresh start to my life and career. I have returned my obligations. Today, I am a free man." |
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