It’s a surprising thought from an actor whose name is almost synonymous with the bustling entertainment world. Manoj Bajpayee, a true force in cinema, has revealed a deep personal truth. He feels Mumbai, the city of dreams, has never truly given him a sense of belonging. He even hints at leaving the metropolis when he gets older.
Bajpayee opened up about his career and personal life in a recent chat with Amar Ujala. His new film, ‘Inspector Zende’, is set to release on September 5th on OTT platforms. Beyond that, fans are excited for his reunion with director Ram Gopal Varma. They are working together again after 27 long years.
When the script for ‘Inspector Zende’ first landed on his desk, Bajpayee expected a heavy, serious thriller. He pictured the usual tough stories about police officers and their problems. But as he read it, he found himself laughing out loud. He was genuinely surprised. The comedy felt natural, not forced. This made him think it would be a great chance to try something new with his acting.
Taking on a lighter role after many intense characters does make a difference, Bajpayee shared. He always tries to switch off and be normal once he’s home. But it rarely works. His life gets tangled with his work on set. During shoots, he constantly wished he could get home faster. However, Mumbai’s traffic is a huge headache. By the time he reached home in the evenings, his family was usually asleep. When his daughter was small, she would wait up for him and fall asleep. Then, when he arrived, she would wake up, making it tough to put her back to bed. To fix this, he started staying in hotels near the set, even for Mumbai shoots. This helped him keep a regular routine.
It’s hard for any parent not to feel regret about time lost with their children. Bajpayee admitted, with a laugh, that anyone who says they don’t feel this is living in another world. If both parents work, they find ways to care for their child. But if only one parent works outside the home, the regret becomes even deeper. He called it a unique kind of pain, mixed with necessity.
Certain roles stay with an actor long after filming wraps. Bajpayee recalled his experience with the film ‘Shool’. Back then, he understood how to get into a character, but not how to leave it behind. He shared that he used to carry things people said in his mind. He just didn’t know how to ignore them. The character of Bhiku Mhatre from ‘Satya’ also took a long time to shed. He even found himself swearing more and getting angrier during that period. It took a lot of effort to break free. Over time, with more experience, he learned how to step out of roles. But the part in ‘Shool’ was definitely his toughest.
Despite the challenges, Bajpayee’s love for acting remains as strong as ever. He never once thought of leaving the craft. However, the thought of leaving Mumbai often crosses his mind. He confessed that the big city has never given him a sense of belonging. He feels he has never become a “big city person.” This feeling makes him want to leave everything behind. Perhaps, he mused, when he reaches a certain age, he will actually leave this city for good.
