Manoj Bajpayee, known for redefining versatility in Indian cinema, appeared on this week’s episode of The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra. The actor opened up about his craft, his hunger for challenging roles, and the advice he would give to the younger generation chasing stardom.
Speaking about his undying love for the art, Bajpayee admitted that his fascination began early. “I was crazy about acting when I was 10 years old and I’m crazy about it even today,” he said, adding that passion has been the only constant in his long journey. Even after decades in the industry, he confessed with a smile, “Today too, I feel every great role should only come to me and go to no one else.”
But his advice to aspiring actors was far from glamorous. He stressed that pursuing acting for material success could be disappointing. “If you want to buy a nice car, live in a nice house, wear good clothes, tour the world through your acting, then I’d say don’t go for it. Because the ratio of people that achieve that is very less,” he explained. His parting words summed it up best: “If you want to act because without it you might die, then do come.”
The actor also reflected on the evolution of OTT, calling it the perfect platform for today’s talent. “The next generation of actors…they all have a lifestyle today. All of them are leading a dream life…so much talent can only be consumed by a medium like OTT,” he added.