Nawazuddin Siddiqui says he didn’t take Manoj Bajpayee seriously as an actor before Bandit Queen: “Pehle toh aivanyi le rahe the hum unko”

May 21, 2023 - 9:22 AM IST

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who will next be seen in Jogira Sara Ra Ra, said that he didn't take Manoj Bajpayee seriously when they worked on a play years before they worked on Gangs Of Wasseypur. This was way before Bajpayee had received critical acclaim for Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui says he didn’t take Manoj Bajpayee seriously as an actor before Bandit Queen: “Pehle toh aivanyi le rahe the hum unko”

In an interview with Mashable India, Nawazuddin said that it was only after watching the movie that he realized the talent of Bajpayee. “I had done a play with Manoj bhai. Back then, he wasn’t this famous. He was popular in the theatre circuit. I got a part in that play and learnt that the main lead was played by Manoj Bajpayee. After that, he got Bandit Queen and then I got to know who is Manoj Bajpayee! Pehle toh aivanyi le rahe the hum unko (Earlier, I was taking him lightly). He was known in the theatre circuit though, and was among the top five best actors of the time,” he said.

“Vijay Raaz and I used to stand like a tree for two and a half hours! And Manoj bhai was so naughty, he was playing a part of a Koala and a jungle was created on stage — where men would be trees. So, as the Koala, he could come and scratch himself and we would feel ticklish but couldn’t even laugh. Iss tareeke ki badmaashiya karte the,” he added.

Meanwhile, Manoj Bajpayee will star in the ZEE5 project, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai.