I Don’t Want to Fit in’: Manoj Bajpayee

For over three decades, Manoj Bajpayee has resisted being confined to a particular image, moving effortlessly between mainstream cinema and independent films, and between characters that challenge and unsettle audiences. In this conversation, the actor discusses his long-standing creative association with filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, his role in Gajab Raat, and the challenges of navigating a constantly evolving entertainment industry.think I have a liking for the kind of thrillers he keeps coming up with. His characters are all out of the box. It’s never just about a CBI officer or a police officer, but goes beyond their professions or circumstances to explore a person’s inner conflicts and what makes them who they are.

I somehow also relate to his journey and his cultural background. I think that’s why we’re both comfortable talking to each other and exchanging ideas. For Gajab Raat, which is a collaboration between Neeraj and Ritesh Shah, who has directed it, they bring their own sensibilities. Neeraj comes up with unconventionalthrillers, to which Ritesh adds his own brand of dark humour. To crack these aspects is challenging as an actor, but when you are faced with such an opportunity, it’s always fun. You end up exploring certain aspects of your craft.As an actor, I am always tweaking and improvising. Each one of us has different approaches that we use to enhance our performance. I may have to write a book to discuss my process over the years. But talking about this film, the premise is that it’s a thriller on the move, and it all happens over one night where he goes through the experience of a lifetime. The churning and roller coaster was engaging for me. It demanded me to lend an urgency to my performance and how to translate that; it was something I had to work hard on achievingI believe the more the mediums grow, the better it is for the actors as well as the creators. I have never given much of a serious thought to the demarcation between streaming and theater. Most of my films this year were released in theatres and then went on to OTT, where they did extremely well. This actually helps gauge audiences’ choices. But for me, irrespective of medium or format, it is the fact that I am being part of something new—whether it is a story presenting itself in a new way, or showcasing a character who has never been spoken about. It is never and will never be of any concern to As an actor, I am always tweaking and improvising. Each one of us has different approaches that we use to enhance our performance. I may have to write a book to discuss my process over the years. But talking about this film, the premise is that it’s a thriller on the move, and it all happens over one night where he goes through the experience of a lifetime. The churning and roller coaster was engaging for me. It demanded me to lend an urgency to my performance and how to translate that; it was something I had to work hard on I believe the more the mediums grow, the better it is for the actors as well as the creators. I have never given much of a serious thought to the demarcation between streaming and theater. Most of my films this year were released in theatres and then went on to OTT, where they did extremely well. This actually helps gauge audiences’ choices. But for me, irrespective of medium or format, it is the fact that I am being part of something new—whether it is a story presenting itself in a new way, or showcasing a character who has never been spoken about. It is never and will never be of any concern to me where they release the project.As an actor, I am always tweaking and improvising. Each one of us has different approaches that we use to enhance our performance. I may have to write a book to discuss my process over the years. But talking about this film, the premise is that it’s a thriller on the move, and it all happens over one night where he goes through the experience of a lifetime. The churning and roller coaster was engaging for me. It demanded me to lend an urgency to my performance and how to translate that; it was something I had to work hard on