Yahan jaisa aamras kahin nahi milta,” shares Manoj Bajpayee , who was in Ahmedabad recently. The versatile actor, who was recently seen in Governor, talks about playing the RBI Governor for the first time, what draws him to unconventional characters , and more.




‘No character can change you as a person’
Be it movies like Special 26 and Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai or shows like The Family Man and Killer Soup, Manoj has always played unconventional characters. Does it change something in him too? Manoj says, “While nothing changes you as a person, there are certain things that stay with you. Since you live with a character for such a long time, they inevitably stay somewhere in your subconscious. But I come from a different upbringing and have a completely different backstory from the characters I play, so portraying them doesn’t change who I am. However, it teaches me what I got right and what I could have done better. I carry those lessons forward and apply them to my next project.”




‘I keep a research file with me for certain characters’
Talking about how he prepares for a role, Manoj shares, “Main script ko baar baar padhta hoon, research karta hoon, and have meetings with creative teams. Phir readings hoti hai, and personal research karna padta hai. You have to imagine the character on screen, their behavioural patterns, body language, and emotions. Khali kirdar parde pe khada ho raha hai toh woh kaafi nahi hai. Uske khade rehne se aapko pata chal jaana chahiye woh kaun hai, kahan se aaya hai, aur uske dimag mein kya chal raha hai. What you see on screen is the result of two to three months of preparation.”



He adds, “While Google is very useful for research these days, for certain characters, like the RBI governor, I keep a research file with me. There’s often a long gap between shooting a film and its release, and by then I’ve usually completed two more projects. To make sure I don’t accidentally give out incorrect information during interviews or promotions, I refer to that file whenever needed (smiles).”




‘Audiences are very black and white’
Do audiences prefer his crime-based roles and politically charged characters more? Manoj candidly says, “Main iss pe yakeen nahi karta. People loved Gulmohar , and Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai was a blockbuster. In fact, it had the highest views on OTT and then was released in theatres too. Toh audience kabhi aise decisions nahi leti. Be it films or OTT projects, the audience either likes it or doesn’t. They are very black and white, and that is their final decision.”



He adds, “Gulmohar was a simple film, and we thought it was a family film people would enjoy. Nobody knew how it would be received. But it was received very well. I get messages on social media even today. These weren’t crime-based films, but people loved watching me in them. Ek seedha-saadha aadmi aur seedhi-saadhi zindagi hai. But the lives of these characters were interesting, and their struggles against their circumstances resonated deeply with audiences.”




‘Playing the RBI Governor needed extensive preparation’
Talking about playing the RBI Governor in his latest release, Manoj says, “A lot of preparation went into this. Maine na toh kabhi RBI Governor ka character kiya tha, na main kisi RBI Governor se mila tha. Everything was new for me. My character is an economist, but I was never good at maths or economics, so even understanding terms like ‘fiscal deficit’ was a learning experience. (smiles).”



He adds, “We faced other challenges too. We weren’t allowed to enter the RBI building. Only the art director was permitted inside to observe and note every detail, as photography was strictly prohibited.”



Talking about the city, Manoj shares, "Ahmedabad is a great city, and I have been here many times. Yahan pe aa ke main sabse pehle yahan ka khaana khata hoon. I love the aamras here. Ghar pe aamras banane ki koshish ki thi, par woh yahan jaisa nahi bann paata. Yahan jaisa aamras kahin nahin milta."