I Was An Outsider, Was Close To Committing Suicide: Manoj Bajpayee

Mumbai: ‘Satya’ actor Manoj Bajpayee’s journey from Bihar to being a popular Bollywood actor in Mumbai wasn’t an easy one. What kept him going was his dream to become an actor.

In an interview with the Humans of Bombay, Manoj stated that he was an outsider who tried hard to carve a niche in the industry and it wasn’t easy at all.

During his struggling days, he even had suicidal thoughts. His friends were so worried that they never left him alone and used to sleep next to him.

“I was an outsider, trying to fit in. So, I taught myself English & Hindi.. Bhojpuri was a big part of how I spoke. I then applied to NSD, but was rejected thrice. I was close to committing suicide, so my friends would sleep next to me & not leave me alone. They kept me going until I was accepted (sic).”

The ‘Aligarh’ actor had struggled for around four years before getting a break.

Recalling the hurdles he faced when he was a beginner, Manoj said, “All the while, I struggled to pay rent & at times even a vada pav was costly. But the hunger in my stomach couldn’t dissuade my hunger to succeed. After 4 years of struggle, I got a role in Mahesh Bhatt’s TV series. I got Rs 1500 per episode, my first steady income. My work was noticed & I was offered my first Bollywood film & soon, I got my big break with ‘Satya’. That’s when the awards rolled in. I bought my first house & knew I was here to stay. 67 films later, here I am. That’s the thing about dreams when it comes to turning them into reality, the hardships don’t matter. What matters is the belief of that 9-year-old Bihari boy & nothing else (sic).”

Manoj Bajpayee is one of the most respected actors in the industry. After hogging the limelight in Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Satya’ in 1998, he was appreciated for his roles in Kaun (1999), Shool (1999), Zubeidaa (2001), Road (2002) and many other films.