Manoj Bajpai: Amitabh Bachchan is my idol

Call it the Manoj Bajpai factor - a potent combination of brains, acting prowess, and raw carnality that underlines why the actor is both revered by, but somehow distant from, Bollywood. That rare amalgam in part accounts for his recent film RETURN TO RAJAPUR being nominated at a film festival in New York.

Manoj Bajpai belongs to a small village in Bihar. His father is a farmer, his mother a housewife. He had always dreamt of becoming an actor. At 18, Bajpai moved to Delhi to complete his education and subsequently pursue theatre. "Initially, I stayed in a one-room lodging with many others. It was a rough period but I was focused on completing my education and pursuing an acting career. After graduating from Ramjas College, I attempted to secure admission to the National School of Drama but failed - four times," he reveals.

Bajpai sustained himself with sporadic theatre work before a meeting with theatre-guru Barry John transformed his career. "He liked my passion for acting and took me under his wing. I owe a lot to him. Theatre became my life and I never felt the need to graduate to films and make big money. I was content in slaking my voracious appetite for acting. I had a bohemian existence and lived for the moment. Until the day I got married. The added responsibility made me realize that I would now have to take life seriously. I did everything I could to polish my acting prowess. In fact, I would pick up the newspaper, randomly choose a character, and play it in front of my friends. An actor has to be focused, else he can easily get lost in the glamour world."

Bajpai continued with theatre until his first break in films: a role in BANDIT QUEEN. "I was very excited at the prospect of working with director Shekhar Kapoor. He made my transition from theatre to films natural, and advised me to move to Mumbai. I was very nervous because shifting base meant nullifying my 11 years of work in Delhi but eventually my wife and I took the decision to move."

"In Mumbai, I survived on small roles," he continues. "My theatre experience was of no value. Bollywood is very harsh. I am shocked that filmmakers make no distinction between someone with a theatre background and a man with no work experience. I was reduced to zilch and signed bit roles in films like DROHKAAL. My marriage too was on the rocks by then. So it was a bad period for me - both professionally and personally. After four years, I got a call to act in the teleserial, 'Swabhimaan'." Bajpai's launch pad to Bollywood stardom came when Mahesh Bhatt offered him TAMANNA. Ramgopal Varma saw the film and cast him in DAUD, and later in the lead in SATYA.

SATYA was a turning point in his career. His character is considered one of the finest in Bollywood till date and he won numerous awards for his portrayal of a hotheaded yet kind-hearted gangster. 'He just tears into a part,' wrote the media. 'There are a lot of actors in the business who cannot really act, some interesting people who can act a bit, but Manoj Bajpai is someone you cannot keep your eyes off.'

Did he, at any point, feel like an outsider, I probe? "Yes, there are times when I felt like an outsider," he admits. "People used to make fun of me because I could not converse fluently in English. You know, I could not speak in English at all until Barry John advised me to learn! I have worked very hard to prove myself. And now those very people who mocked me as a village bumpkin, perceive me as a snob!"

Today Bajpai is ranked among the most talented actors in Bollywood. His diverse films are testimony to his acting prowess. JAAGO is based on the real-life incident of the rape of a teenage girl in a local train, PINJAR is set in the partition, ROAD is a fast-paced thriller, AKS has supernatural shades, he plays a prince in ZUBEIDA and VEER-ZAARA, and INTEQUAM is inspired from erotic thriller BASIC INSTINCT.

AKS has a special place in his heart - owing to his admiration for co-star Amitabh Bachchan. "He is my idol. I have been his ardent fan since childhood. On the sets of AKS, I was completely in awe of him. I used to constantly talk about him until people told me, 'Manoj, you have an Amitabh hangover.' But I say, why not? He is a fantastic actor! He's ruled this industry for decades and yet he is so humble," he enthuses.

Speaking of being humble, how has unprecedented success affected him? "Success has got me good projects and financial stability. But my personal life has suffered. I rarely meet my family and close friends whom I used to meet almost everyday because I'm always on the move. Work dictates my life! But don't get me wrong here: I'm not complaining; I'm just stating facts!"

After a short hiatus from the limelight post BEWAFAA, Bajpai is in the news again. RETURN TO RAJAPUR in which he plays a prince [yet again!], has been nominated at a New York film festival. In this film, his co-star is Lin Collin of 'Merchant Of Venice' fame. The future seems bright as well. "I am looking forward to '1971' directed by Ramanand Sagar's grandson, Amrit Sagar. The film deals with the predicament of six Indian soldiers held captive during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war," is his parting shot.

On that note, we shake hands and I prepare to leave; my opinion of Manoj Bajpai is not of the quintessential Bollywood actor: He fits, and does not fit, in tinsel town. He is prepared to play the Bollywood game, provided it can be played on his terms. He's not full of hot air despite unprecedented success and awards, he doesn't bow to filmmakers, and audiences respect him for it...