EXCLUSIVE: Manoj Bajpayee recalls feeling “suffocated” as he “tried to be someone else” after he got fame; says, “I realised that it’s not giving me happiness” : Bollywood News

Acclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee has been busy promoting his upcoming film, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. As part of the promotional activities, Bajpayee recently gave an interview to Bollywood Hungama. Besides sharing his thoughts on the film, the actor also reflected on his journey.

EXCLUSIVE: Manoj Bajpayee recalls feeling “suffocated” as he “tried to be someone else” after he got fame; says, “I realised that it’s not giving me happiness”

The critically acclaimed star candidly revealed that he felt suffocated trying to be someone else after gaining fame and recognition, as he was constantly asked to behave in certain ways. He eventually decided to be himself, not consciously choosing to be known as a common man, but comfortable with his true identity.

The Satya actor asserted, “Since the time I started getting some kind of recognition, there were choices in front of me. I tried to be someone else after the fame and recognition because people were constantly asking me to be this way or that way, or behave this way or that way. Then in a month, I realised that it’s not giving me happiness.”

He further added, “I started feeling claustrophobic. I started feeling quite suffocated where I could not be myself and that was the time I decided to do it my way. It was not a conscious choice to be known as a common man. This is what I was and this is what I was very comfortable with.” He concluded his take by saying, “Whatever happened, happened quite organically after that. I didn’t choose those roles because I wanted to be known a certain way.”

Coming back to his upcoming film, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, it is slated to release on ZEE5 on May 23. Inspired by true events, the direct-to-digital original film is a courtroom drama directed by Apoorv Singh Karki. It is the story of an ordinary man - a high court lawyer who single-handedly fought an extraordinary case for the rape of a minor under the POCSO act.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Manoj Bajpayee calls OTT platforms “boon” to his career; says 1971 got 60M views during first lockdown