Manoj
Bajpayee,
one
of
the
finest
actors
that
we
have
in
the
country
says
that
there
was
a
time
when
he
had
no
money
to
eat
and
so
had
to
do
a
few
episodes
of
TV
series
for
just
a
thousand
bucks
per
episode.
Manoj
says
that
he
could
heave
a
sigh
of
relief
only
after
the
success
of
his
serial
Swabhiman.
The
serial
started
giving
him
Rs.
2,000
per
episode.
Those
were
the
days
he
had
some
money
in
his
wallet
all
the
time,
reminisces
the
talented
actor.
Speaking
to
a
leading
newspaper
about
his
18
long
years
in
Bollywood,
Manoj
Bajpayee
got
nostalgic.
Speaking
about
his
struggle
in
the
industry
before
he
essayed
his
role
as
Bhiku
Mhatre
in
Satya,
Manoj
Bajpai
said
that
those
days
were
rather
discouraging
as
he
had
to
compromise
on
his
beliefs
for
his
needs.
Manoj,
who
is
a
passionate
lover
of
theatre
is
unable
to
convince
himself
on
singing,
dancing
and
doing
all
that
is
expected
of
a
commercial
film
hero.
Asking
all
newcomers
to
do
as
many
films
as
possible,
Manoj
Bajpayee
recalls,
My
great
moment
was
when
Mahesh
Bhatt
found
me
from
a
series
called
Swabhiman.
He
realised
that
I
was
capable
of
big
things
and
he
gave
me
a
role
in
Tamanna.
And
then
Ram
Gopal
Varma
saw
me
in
Tamanna
and
Bandit
Queen
and
he
thought
I
was
capable
of
being
Bhiku
Mhatre."
When
asked
about
how
he
felt
being
tagged
as
a
serious
actor,
Manoj
Bajpayee
cited
examples
of
films
like
Zubeida
and
Road.
He
said
that
though
he
hasn't
done
a
slapstick
film,
he
cannot
be
termed
a
serious
actor.
Success
hasn't
spoilt
Manoj
Bajpayee
as
he
says
humbly
that
he
tries
not
to
give
in
to
temptation.
Talking
about
owning
a
Mercedes,
Manoj
said
that
he
is
not
comfortable
with
the
status
symbol
and
added,
“Mr.
Amitabh
Bachchan
will
be
more
comfortable
in
a
Mercedes
than
Manoj
Bajpayee.
Because
he
has
the
status
of
being
a
very
big
star.
He
can
afford
a
Mercedes
and
I
can
afford
a
lesser
car
than
that."
Manoj
Bajpayee
has
sure
come
a
long
way
since
his
days
of
struggle.
We
wish
him
good
luck
in
his
endeavour
to
do
more
meaningful
and
performance
oriented
roles.