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Manoj
Bajpai is in the second innings of his life. The first one that
began with Satya and lasted for a while till he adorned the
robe of the film’s hero and failed. Now with Aks he plans to
make a different and new beginning wherein the criteria is not
to have the role of the hero but one that has meat. With experimental
films on hand and regular films too to fill in the blanks, Manoj
has his eyes set on the box office and I guess he isn’t aksing
for much.
What made you sign Aks?
When I heard the script, Aks sounded like a different film.
It had a negative role for me but the role was not the usual
negative one. Otherwise, I would not have done it. When I listen
to the story I don't look at the roles as the villain or the
hero of the film. The story has to work for me. Here the negative
role was a metaphor of evil. There was no reference for such
a character. It was a tough job to bare the responsibility of
the entire film. If I go wrong the entire film goes wrong. Therefore
my role
in
Aks was a difficult character to portray, which people had never
seen.
We are going
for some kind of change in our treatment. People who liked it,
liked it immensely and those who didn't like it like the critics,
they didn't like it at all. So, that is the kind of country
we live in. So the people who take risk, they make changes like
Rakesh Mehra and will be known for this.
After creating
my character on screen with Rakesh, I can proudly say that Aks
is my best film, my best role to date. It has been my best performance.
I know people feel Satya was my best but Satya was popular and
successful. It will be my favourite and I am obliged to Ramu
for giving me Satya. But my favourite will be Aks and then Kaun
in terms of performance. They were difficult roles to play.
There was quite a hype that the film will do well.
People had a feeling about it because we never had the intention
of hyping it up or creating any kind of expectation. We released
the promo as everybody but somewhere people thought it would
be a thriller and what they got was a psychological thriller.
It was shock for the audience. And that’s why there was a fall
in the collections after three days and that's why they found
the second half a bit long. We went by this criticism and then
trimmed it and we got positive response after that.
So were you disappointed when the film did not do well?
For me Aks has done well as I am getting appreciation and many
offers. The film on the whole has been appreciated abroad and
has done fine in India too. Every film of mine can’t be a Satya,
you see. I was part of three successful films since my career
started. I will not include Kaun as it was critically acclaimed
but at the same time it made good money for the producer. Though
it was very low budget film made in 20 days and it was successful
film.
But the success
the media understands is like Satya’s. And if you are going
to compare all my films with the success of Satya you are going
to feel disappointed because very few films get Satya kind of
success. Last year there was no successful film at all expect
Kaho Na Pyar Hai so it would be unjust to me to expect every
film to be as big hit as Satya. Shool, Zuibeda were successful
and Aks too has got good results overseas. We are ranked thirteenth
in U.K including all other English film.
As far as Dil
Pe Mat Le Yaar and Ghaath go, I agree those two films didn't
do well. Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar due its own marketing strategy and
people who produced it who didn't even knew anything about production.
We failed in the experiment, which we were tried but we learned
a lot.
Aks is a different
film. A kind of film people might not have seen and might not
see in the next ten years. So I am placed very uniquely today
where a hit or a flop will not hurt me. Offers, phone calls
still keep coming. I will always be there and there will always
be different kinds of roles for me.
What you look for when you sign a film? Is it the story
and your artistic satisfaction?
Both. Commerically no one can get it right every time. People
made all kind of mistakes in films last year. Even the big banners
bombed as nothing guarantees success here! People make formula
film thinking they know it all. But I go by my conviction, if
it fail it fails, if it succeeds it does. I have grown up watching
Hindi films and have my own sense of right and wrong films.
How do you handle a scene when you know that your costar
is not that talented or good?
Till now I have not done those kinds of films or been in those
kinds of situations. Look at all my films, it had tremendous
talent in them rather I was the one who always thought I was
not perfect at times. From Bandit Queen till Aks all my actors
have been extremely professional and dedicated to their job.
Tell
me, how important is PR for an actor?
Yes it is important. You have to be in touch with people. We
are living in the time, which is very commercial; and media
has became very strong. There are so many channels, magazines
which were monthly have become weekly, so there are competing
with each other. When the media wants to fill up pages or episodes
and you don't use it, they will use you and write all kinds
of rubbish. If you are left alone people will not look at you,
you have to sell your product, yourself. Everyone is selling,
they are blowing their own trumpet and this is the kind of age
and time we are living in. Till Aks I didn't have a PR person,
now I do. I have to make rapport with everyone as I am busy
with my production it is best to let the professionals do their
job.
Do you think your potential is tapped or there’s lots left?
Lots more left untapped. And I am satisfied with the kind of
offers I am getting. I would say there are very few people who
get such good offers and good roles. Tell me who today is getting
the kind of roles I am getting?
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