Manoj Bajpayee July 1998 was an unforgettable month for both Manoj and his wife Shabana Raza. It was around that time that Manoj became a household name for his role as the fierce gangster Bhiku Mhatre in the film. Ram Gopal VarmaPopular Crime Movies’satya‘. Around the same time, Shabana entered the acting world with the romantic film Kareeb, co-starring Bobby Deol and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film may not have attracted the audience to the theatres, but Shabana won the hearts of many with her natural and convincing performance as Neha.
Manoj Bajpayee tells how he fell in love with Shabana
In an interview with SCREEN, Bajpayee narrated how his love story with Shabana started from the moment they met at a party and he said it was literally love at first sight. He said: “Kareeb was also celebrated and she became the discovery of the year. When I looked at her and interacted with her, I was completely mesmerized by her. We fell in love. We actually started dating from day one.”
Why Shabana never visits Manoj Bajpayee on the sets
Apart from their personal bond, Bajpayee considers having Shabana as his partner a blessing in his career. Her deep understanding of the film industry and her thoughtful personality help them maintain a healthy balance. One of the most obvious examples of this was her steadfast decision to never set foot on his set. “My wife is very receptive and sensitive to these things. Her decision made it clear that she would never visit me on set. Because from the beginning, she accepted that Manoj was different, but she was not ready to accept this Manoj, she did not feel accepted or unwelcome. That’s when she decided not to come to the set,” the actor recalled.
Manoj Bajpayee calls it a different understanding
Bajpayee admitted that there were times when he really wished Shabana would come with him on the sets, but she always restrained herself because she knew it was ultimately for his benefit. As an actress, she understands why. “It was good because as an actor she knew it would be silly for her to ask for my attention at this point. What he was doing and what he was going through was completely different and she wasn’t even in that zone. It’s a different understanding,” Bajpayee said.
Manoj Bajpayee’s journey from “Satya” to “Satya”family man ‘
After seven years of dating, Shabana finally tied the knot with Bajpayee in 2006 and the couple welcomed their daughter Ava Nayla in 2011. Shabana retired from acting in 2009, but for nearly three decades, from his breakthrough role in Satya to the huge success in The Family Man, Bajpayee has been with him at every stage of his incredible journey. Looking back on his career, Bajpayee feels that while people may have different perceptions of his journey, not much has really changed from his perspective. “In people’s eyes, my career has changed. But in reality, nothing has changed because even then, I wasn’t doing those upcoming films. So, the situation remains the same,” Bajpayee said.
Manoj Bajpayee on his slow and steady financial growth
When it comes to his financial growth, Bajpayee reveals that it has been a slow and steady climb rather than an overnight turnaround brought on by the success of any one film. “Initially, when you do films as an actor, you don’t get paid much. It takes you years to start asking for your price. So, the situation remains the same. There’s just a little comfort in terms of money,” the actor added.He went on to share how intense his early life was, and how even the smallest expenses required careful consideration. “Now, it’s become easier. But it’s still not that easy that I can go to a showroom and buy a car (laughs). It took me about seven to eight years before I started asking about prices,” Bajpayee revealed.
Manoj Bajpayee says it wasn’t a movie that changed everything
Looking back at the timeline, one might consider his supporting role in Yash Chopra’s hit romance Veer-Zaara in 2004, six years after Satya, to be a turning point, especially since Bajpayee mentioned that he was paid to play the lead in the film. However, he’s quick to dismiss the idea that any one movie can drastically change the trajectory of an actor’s career. For Bajpayee, consistency is all about creating a body of work that speaks for itself over time. “This is my experience in this industry. You keep building up good work and keep creating your credibility and then people start respecting you. To get into any office, you have to prove it for a long time. It still makes sense,” the actor added.
