Despite a legendary three-decade career, Bollywood icon Manoj Bajpayee admitted he has frequently thought about quitting acting altogether. To escape the heavy toll of his signature, emotionally demanding roles, the actor revealed he now wants to pivot to lighter cinema, including commercial entertainers and slapstick comedies.
Talking about if he will continue acting in old age, Manoj Bajpayee said, "Kareeb 10 saal se naa beech beechmein mann karta hai ki main acting chodh doon. Lekin fir kabhi koi role ajata hai aur main chala jaata hoon. Main acting ko majboori ki taur pe nahi karna chahta hoon ki mujhe ghar par dal roti leke jaani hai. Mujhe acting karni hai ki agar koi character ko nibhane main bahut mazza aayega (For the past 10 years, every now and then, I have felt like quitting acting. But then a role comes along, and I find myself going back to it. I don't want to act out of compulsion, just because I need to earn a living and provide for my family. I want to act only when I feel that playing a particular character will be truly enjoyable and fulfilling for me)."
He further added, "Aajkal mera bada mann kar raha hai commercial film karne ka jabki main bahut door raha hoon. I want to do out-and-out slapstick comedy, nonsense karo. Thoda gaano pe naacho. Kuch nahi ghar se koi teyaari nahi karke aana hai (These days, I really feel like doing a commercial film, even though I have stayed away from that space for a long time. I want to do a full-fledged slapstick comedy, something completely silly and carefree. Dance to a few songs. Nothing serious, just show up on set without having to do any preparation at home), you just kiss your family goodbye, and you go have a good time on the set without even thinking about what you are playing. Escape from all the things that I have been doing."
Manoj Bajpayee is gearing up for the release of his upcoming movie Governor. Directed by Chinmay D. Mandlekar and produced by Amrutlal Shah under the Sunshine Pictures banner, the upcoming film features Adah Sharma and Noushad Mohamed Kunju in pivotal roles.
Inspired by the true events surrounding India's historic 1990 economic crisis, the highly anticipated movie is scheduled for a theatrical release on June 12.