EXCLUSIVE | Manoj Bajpayee: 'I play a former Baahubali in my 100th film Bhaiyya Ji, The Family Man 3 will be bigger and better'

Manoj Bajpayee has hit a century with his new film Bhaiyaa Ji that releases in cinemas on May 24. The film marks another milestone collaboration between Manoj Bajpayee and the award-winning team of Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, including director Apoorv Singh Karki, producer Vinod Bhanushali, and writer Deepak Kingrani.

The trailer offers a glimpse into Manoj Bajpayee ’s heart-racing action sequences and profound emotional portrayal, setting the stage for the film’s highly awaited release. Alongside Bajpayee, the film features Suvinder Pal Vicky as the lead antagonist, with Zoya Hussain, Vipin Sharma, and Jatin Goswami in pivotal roles. Directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, Bhaiyya Ji promises to be a cinematic spectacle.

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, the actor spoke about his journey so far, playing heroes that are rooted in heartland, and of course, The Family Man 3.

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You have scored a century with your next film Bhaiyya Ji. Who are the people you would like to thank?

God. My parents, who are no more now, the audience. And my wife. I’m saying my wife because it’s because of her that I could get out since the last 10 years when my child was still a toddler, so it’s all because of her; someone who’s been a partner and who has shown a lot of confidence and belief in me.

Many cricketers, when they score a century, they suffered from what we call the nervous nineties. So when you did your last swim, Joram, did you have an idea this was your 99th film and you were about to score a century?

You know, So there there there lies, a trick. I never knew about my the number of films that I have. I was not even aware of it. So there’s a lesson that lies in there that even you are batting, don’t look at the scoreboard. Just keep batting.

You started with films like Drohkal and Bandit Queen, which were rooted in India. These were the films that belonged to the heartland. And 30 years later, you score a century with the same kind of a film. So do you feel the ethos of your cinema has remained the same in these 3 decades?

Oh, yes. And, also the kind of mainstream films I would like to see, coming from our own soil, coming from our own culture, completely rooted in our culture is I would like to look at it, the hero which is coming from my family, from my society. You know, hero that I can root for. Hero who is representing me. I always wanted to be part of that kind of a story. And here I got a director like Apoorva Singh Karki, who believed in the same thing. And he wanted to make a commercial cinema, and I provided the idea that was with me for so many years. And the result is there, and now we’ve seen the film so we know what we’ve made, and the trailer is just the 20%. The teaser is just the 20%. The trailer is going to be far, far more, stronger, than everything that we have shown it to you. And the film is going to be everything.

Because you belong to the heartland, you have seen that world, you have grown up in that world, do you feel this is the reason why you are able to justify these characters and make them so iconic, be it Satya, be it Gangs of Wasseypur and now Bhaiyya Ji.

Oh, yes. You’re so right. I’m only for that reason. I always advise all the younger actors who come to me for advices. I say don’t think about anything else. If you are born in an urban, urban city, you should just give 1 year to travel within the country. Go and stay in the small town, take a room for rent, stay in one place for 2 months, 1 month, move around, then go to another village, understand your people, understand this country and the culture. It will change your approach as a writer, as a director, as an actor.

And how was your prep for this character like?

So, Bhayaji is, is someone who is a former Baahubali, somebody in the film starts, he’s not even a Bahubali now. But because of the circumstances, he’s provoked to invoking his past. I have seen these people growing up. I was born in this kind of a culture, this kind of a society. I’ve seen through my own naked eyes, their vulnerable aspect and their aggressive aspect. I have seen all of it. So definitely when you are getting a role to do it, you are well equipped because of your experience. You are well equipped because of the place that you come from.

You have literally covered almost all possible genres in this 30 years. We have action in Gangs of Wasseypur and Satya, thriller in Kaun and Aks, drama in Pinjar and Bandaa, romance in Zubeidaa. Do you still have any wish lift left as an actor because every actor has that one dream role that they have spoken about.

No. I mean, see, look, I’ve never been thinking about the roles. I’ve only been thinking about the stories. And those stories can fall into any genre. It doesn’t matter. But for me, story is far more important. Script is far more important. It is something that I have not done. I’ll go ahead and do it no matter which genre it is. You know, many people say you’ve done, 5, 6 police roles in 30 years of career. Yes. I said, how does it matter? Look at it differently. How many people I have played? How many people I have played who wore the uniform. So I look look at it from that perspective. So if, again, I get a, Buddhist person’s role, which is very unique, I’ll do it, because it is about the person, it’s not about the uniform. So I’m always looking for stories and those very unique, and not exactly the genres.

Since you spoke about uniform, are excited to be back as Shrikant Tiwari? Fans have been waiting for The Family Man 3.

So Shrikant is from intelligence and intelligence is a very different ball game altogether. It’s like the difference between a lawyer and a policeman. That’s the kind of a difference between a policeman and an intelligence man. Different work areas, different challenges, different profession altogether. This time is going to be far bigger and far better, so people should just fasten their seat belts.