Renowned actor Manoj Bajpayee, known for his powerful performances across a variety of roles, has opened up about a persistent typecasting in his career. In a recent interview with the Bombay Times, the National Award-winning actor revealed that he is rarely offered roles portraying affluent or high-society characters, a trend that has followed him throughout his acting journey.
“I am never considered for high-society roles,” Bajpayee candidly shared in the interview. Reflecting on his career, he noted that his portrayal of wealthy or influential characters has been a rarity. “The only film before Gulmohar (2023) where I played a rich guy was Zubeidaa (2001). That was Shyam Benegal’s conviction. He was the one who felt that real maharajas were not Greek gods. They looked normal.”
Bajpayee also discussed his brief but memorable role in Yash Chopra’s Veer-Zaara (2004), where he played a Pakistani politician. “I had two scenes in it, but Yashji was adamant that I do it. He cast me after watching Pinjar (2003). These filmmakers had the vision to see beyond the surface, a perspective that comes from experiencing life up close.”
Despite these rare exceptions, Bajpayee acknowledged that most of his roles have been rooted in middle-class and lower-middle-class settings. “The roles that I portrayed were mostly set in middle-class and lower-middle-class stories. No director could think of me as a rich guy, barring the two stalwarts that I mentioned. This stereotyping exists,” he added.
Manoj Bajpayee’s impressive filmography spans over decades and includes critically acclaimed works such as Gangs of Wasseypur, Shool, Satya, Gulmohar, Joram, and Kaun. His versatile acting has earned him recognition and accolades, including a National Film Award.
However, despite his success, Bajpayee continues to face the limitations of being stereotyped into certain types of roles. His recent comments shed light on the industry’s typecasting tendencies, particularly when it comes to actors known for portraying characters from specific socio-economic backgrounds.
Bajpayee was last seen in the commercial entertainer Bhaiyya Ji. Fans are eager to see the seasoned actor continue to break boundaries with his future roles, whether set in the corridors of power or in the heart of everyday life.
