Manoj Bajpayee, one of India’s most acclaimed actors, recently opened up about the unpredictable nature of his career. In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, the actor shared that his wife, Shabana Raza, often reminds him that his survival in the film industry for over three decades is nothing less than a miracle.
“She once told me, ‘It’s a miracle that you are still surviving in this industry. You keep offending people and doing films that are not celebrated that much, and now people are giving you roles right, left and centre. It’s a miracle for me, I thought you’d be gone and we’d have to shift somewhere else,’” Manoj recalled with a laugh. He admitted that even he cannot fully explain the secret behind his success, despite the constant challenges.
Born in a small village in Bihar, Manoj faced years of struggle before breaking into films. After repeated rejections from the National School of Drama, he finally got his big break with Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya in 1998. His portrayal of Bhiku Mhatre not only changed the gangster genre but also earned him his first National Award.
Since then, the actor has delivered memorable performances in films like Shool, Aligarh and Gangs of Wasseypur, while also conquering the OTT space with blockbusters such as The Family Man.
Manoj is married to Shabana Raza, also known by her screen name Neha, who debuted opposite Bobby Deol in Kareeb (1998) and went on to appear in films including Fiza, Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet and Ehsaas.