My DNA is such that rejections make me stronger, says Manoj Bajpayee

Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who was rejected thrice by the National School of Drama, says one should take rejections positively and work harder to overcome them.

No matter what role actor Manoj Bajpayee takes up, he makes them memorable — be it Sardar Khan in Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) or Siras in Aligarh (2015). However, the actor, who is known for his impeccable acting skills was rejected by his alma mater National School of Drama (NSD) not once, not twice, but thrice!

Manoj Bajpayee believes theatre plays a crucial role in an actor’s life. (Waseem Gashroo/HT Photo)

“Yes, everyone knows I got rejected thrice by NSD before I finally made the cut here. But, NSD is not the only place where I faced rejection, it happened in Mumbai, too. I have been rejected so many times by so many people in the film city, that I have lost the count. But with every rejection, my willpower gets stronger. I feel that dismissal should not become the determining point of your graph. In fact, it should become a motivating force that inspires one to work harder.”

The Ramjas college graduate adds, “My DNA is such that with rejections I only get stronger and my personality gets better. I don’t look back and I never will.”

Delhi has been home to Manoj, since his college days. “My family has shifted here, it’s home to me,” he says. On the changing dynamics of the city, he observes, “Delhi has changed a lot in terms of development and infrastructure. But, its food and people are still the same.”

His passion and respect for theatre can be inferred from his statement: “Theatre is surviving for centuries because of passionate individuals across the world. Cinema may die, television may die but theatre will never die. That’s the power of theatre.”

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