Manoj Bajpayee, widely respected for his remarkable acting skills, recently opened up about the limitations placed on his roles. Despite his critical and commercial success, especially with the rise of OTT platforms like Prime Video’s The Family Man, Manoj expressed frustration over being typecast in middle-class or lower-middle-class roles. In a candid conversation with Bombay Times, the actor noted how rare it is for him to be cast as a wealthy character.
Manoj Bajpayee on stereotyping in films: “Mujhe rich dikhaane mein dikkat hoti hai”
Few opportunities to play a rich character
In his 2023 film Gulmohar, Manoj Bajpayee played a well-off character, a rarity in his extensive career. The only other time he portrayed a wealthy person was in Shyam Benegal’s Zubeidaa (2001). Reflecting on his experience, he explained, “Shyam Benegal believed that real maharajas didn’t need to look like Greek gods, but could be normal-looking people.” Bajpayee also shared how Yash Chopra cast him in Veer-Zaara (2004) as a Pakistani politician after watching his performance in Pinjar.
Challenges with casting directors
Bajpayee revealed that, outside of these two films, filmmakers hesitate to cast him in roles that depict wealth. “Bakiyonko mujhe rich dikhaane mein dikkat hoti hai,” he commented, pointing out the stereotyping that surrounds his casting. He observed that while some directors were bold enough to break this mold, others still struggle to envision him in high-society roles.
A prolific year for Manoj Bajpayee
Despite these challenges, 2024 has been an outstanding year for Bajpayee. He has starred in three films – The Fable, Silence 2, and Bhaiya Ji – along with the Netflix show Killer Soup. The actor is currently busy shooting the next season of The Family Man, which remains one of his most popular roles to date.
Also Read: The Family Man 3: Manoj Bajpayee and others get honored by Nagaland Minister
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