Among the finest actors of Indian cinema, Manoj Bajpayee’s rise to stardom has been a chequered path. From his rural roots to hits and misses before establishing his nettle on the silver screen, this book gives insights into the man, the journey and the goal.

Manoj Bajpayee is not your Greek God Bollywood hero; he’s the actor who keeps you hooked to the movie with his ability to get under the skin of the character. From a young rash gangster in Satya to a sinister demon in Aks and the good cop in The Family Man, Manoj Bajpayee handles the complexity of his craft with ease. I am among the few cinegoers who don’t follow the personal lives of actors. Thus, I knew little about the man on the silver screen. This biography changes that.

The author, Piyush Pandey, a journalist who has known Bajpayee for long, traces his life from his rural upbringing in Bihar to Delhi’s theatre culture and Mumbai’s dreamy film studios. The biography, Kuch Paane ki Zid was written by Piyush Pandey in 2022; the English translation has been done by Rohit Vats.

The road to stardom was loaded with trials and triumphs. All through the rough times, Bajpayee stuck his neck out, honed his craft and groomed himself to make it to the A-list of stars in India. He is among the few actors, whose dialogues become quotable quotes, such as ‘Mumbai ka king kaun?’ from Satya, ‘Aatma marti nahin, yeh mein nahin kehta, yeh Gita mein likha hai’ from Aks. For millions of cinegoers, these are iconic lines, that make up the onscreen persona of Bajpayee.

The book’s prose does meander in between, relying heavily on quotes from family, friends, foes, Bajpayee’s memories and the author’s impressions. A more structured and simpler story-like narrative would have worked better, especially for readers like me. Bajpayee’s agricultural roots and family’s political connects are talked about, though not actively stressed upon. Pandey gives us a clear picture of the Bihar of 1980s-1990s, where security and education were an issue.

Bajpayee was bitten by the acting bug after seeing Amitabh Bachchan in Zanjeer. Cinema was the prime entertainment source in the region. He would often see all the movies with friends. To turn his dream into reality, Bajpayee, with his traditional upbringing, ditched his father’s dream of taking up a career as a doctor.

At his mother’s insistence, he came to Delhi to complete his graduation in history from Ramjas College. During college, he worked with a street theatre group and learned about the craft. But not all dreams have straight roads. He failed to secure a seat at Delhi’s famous National School of Drama (NSD). But he did get an opportunity to learn the craft from the well-known theatre guru, Barry John. There, he met Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) as well, and talks about going to Delhi’s grand disco, Ghungroo, in those days with SRK. Over the years, he learned the ways of the city, focussing on his skill, working on all aspects of theatre.

Eventually, this paid off and one of his plays, Netua, brought him critical acclaim. He even got the role of dacoit, Mann Singh, in Shekhar Kapur’s critically acclaimed Bandit Queen, but his career did not take an upswing. It did get him to Mumbai though. Bajpayee wasn’t instantly lapped up by the filmmakers, he had to go through a rigamarole here too. In between, his marriage with first love, Divya, failed, and the money dried up. Along the way, he made some friends, who have also made their mark in Indian cinema such as Saurabh Shukla, Anurag Kashyap, Ashish Vidyarthi, Piyush Mishra.

There have been fallouts and constant learnings. He’s faced anger management and mental health issues. Ill-health, lack of money and assurance of roles have also affected him many times. Many of the events mentioned in the book are already in public domain through media interaction. Breaking out from the traditional familial and social norms would not have been easy for the actor, but he has done this to create his own individual identity.

The book highlights the impact Bajpayee’s success and persona had on aspiring actors from Bihar, demonstrating that success in the glamorous world of Bollywood is attainable. Renowned actor, Pankaj Tripathi, has cited his fan moments many times in media.

In a life full of controversies, hardships and late rewards, Bajpayee stands out for his resilience and fitness. His craft is his asset and his in-depth portrayal of characters his strength. Personally, I have found Aiyaary and Aks to be among his must-watch movies, though both didn’t get commercial success. He rocks in the OTT series, The Family Man, and we eagerly await the third season.

More than inspiration, Bajpayee’s journey has been a thought provoking one. It’s a lot about hard work, grit and dedication to your dream. It’s about remaining grounded and honing your craft through bad times. It’s always about looking forward and changing the game when luck swings in your favour.      

This biography is a reminder that success stories are rarely linear and determination in face of obstacles is sure to make you an achiever.

Book Details
Publisher: Penguin Ebury Press  
Language: English
Hardcover: 240 pages
Price: INR 499 (Kindle edition available)