Manoj Bajpayee: I do commercial films only because of the relationship I share with the makers

Aiyaary actor Manoj Bajpayee talks about how he has been able to maintain a balance between commercial and arthouse cinema.

If there is an actor who has managed to successfully strike a balance between commercial and parallel films, it has to be Manoj Bajpayee. Case in point, critically acclaimed ones such as Aligarh (2016) while playing to the gallery in Shootout at Wadala (2013) and Tevar (2014). His latest release, Aiyaari, sees him play an army officer who brings corruption in the system to the forefront.

Manoj Bajpayee says he has no qualms being associated with commercial cinema. (AMAL KS /HINDUSTAN TIMES))

We ask the 48-year-old actor how he balances a career between the two kinds of cinema, and Manoj says, “I must tell you — the commercial films I do, the extreme ones, I do them only because of the relationship I share with the producer or director of that film. In many cases, there are other people who are much more interested to see me doing those roles.”

“I don’t have any qualms being associated with commercial cinema,” he adds. “You just have to be differently trained to be in those films. As an actor, I like that.”

Manoj’s psychological thriller In the Shadows ( Galli Gulliyan), which is yet to release in India, has done the rounds of many international film festivals, and garnered appreciation. “I feel I have achieved certain things in terms of my craft. What I have achieved with films such as Galli Gulliyan is an achievement of a different kind. I will be very happy if producers of my films such as these recover their money. Because then, they can produce another film like this,” says Manoj, adding, “I only do films which go with my training and conviction. Aiyaary comes completely out of my conviction. Neeraj Panday (the director) has taken it much further. The subjects he deals with are real, the events are real. I feel proud of this venture.” The actor will next be seen alongside Tiger Shroff in Baaghi 2, which shall hit the theatres later this year.

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