Manoj Bajpai speaks on 'Jaago' 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, February 4, 2004 - 07:44 IST
How different is your character in Jaago from that of Shool?
The Samar Pratap Singh of Shool knew only honesty and nothing beyond that. If he chose a path, he continued to tread on it. He was unaware of the corruption in the system. On the other hand, Kripa Shankar Singh of Jaago is aware of the entire system. He uses it to the best so that criminals are punished. He is very smart and shrewd inspector. He is aware about the ills in the society but uses the same to his advantage.
What made you do this film?
The subject of the film was the most important part. The case over here was not the choice of an actor but choice of a character. Like every man has a certain level of wrath against the corrupt system, even Manoj Bajpai some in it. Even if the film makes a viewer think about the issue we would feel that we have succeeded in our goal.
Every director has is own way and genre of making film. So how did you feel working with Mehul?
The best part of working with Mehul Kumar was that you never know when the shooting has ended. I enjoyed working with Mehul because he never enforces himself on the actor. He puts forth his point in a very soft manner and the actor understands what the director wants from him.
Don't you feel you setting yourself into a typecast image of a forceful angry man?
Somewhere inside you are trying to appreciate me. But I would like you to appreciate me openly and whole-heartedly. See, if I do a variety role people feel why am I doing such different roles and setting a different image for himself. If I don't do different type of films, then they complain as to why are you doing a similar kind of roles and getting stereotyped. I have never tried to repeat myself. If somebody feels so, they should check out my movies. I don't have to prove it to anybody.
In the film you are fighting against a corrupt system. How far do you personally feel that our system should be changed?
Not only me but also every citizen of this country feels that change is necessary in this system. The purpose of this film itself is to awaken people. Many revolutions are happening against the issue and this film also is a part of one such revolution. Every person who feels that this incident cannot happen to him is wrong. The need of the society today is that before something like this happens to your family you fight against this.
The policemen are generally shown in a negative light in Hindi films. So what do you have to say about this?
I am playing an honest cop in the film so you cannot say that about me. Every office has different kind of characters. For every Kripa Shankar there is also a Ganesh Yadav (the negative cop in the film). So to point out that people only from this profession are corrupt would be wrong.
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