ENTERTAINMENT
Friends used to sleep next to me because of the thought of suicide: Manoj Vajpayee
Manoj said that I applied to NSD but I was rejected three times. I had reached enough to commit suicide, that is why my friends used to sleep with me and did not leave me alone. They kept my motive until I was established.
There was no mind in anything other than acting: Manoj Vajpayee
Manoj said that at the age of 9, I realized that acting is my destination. But I could not dare to dream and I continued my studies. But my mind could not focus on anything else, then at the age of 17, I went to Delhi University. I did theater there but my family had no idea. Finally, I wrote a letter to my father, he did not get angry but sent me 200 rupees as a fee.
He further said, people in the village had declared me incompetent but I had stopped caring. I was an outsider trying to get fit, so I started teaching myself. English and Hindi. I then applied to NSD but I was rejected three times. I had reached enough to commit suicide, that is why my friends used to sleep with me and did not leave me alone. They kept me motive until I was established.
Manoj got his first role in Shekhar Kapur ‘s Bandit Queen. Talking about this, Manoj said, that year I was at a tea shop when Tigmanshu came to see me on a scooter from his katara. Shekhar Kapur wanted to cast me in Bandit Queen. So I thought I am ready and came to Mumbai. It was very difficult in the beginning.
He further said that I lived in a crawl with 5 friends and used to look for work but could not find work. Once an assistant director tore my photo and I lost 3 projects in a single day. I was also told after my first shot that you get out of here. I did not look like a traditional hero, so he thought that I would never be a part of Bollywood.
‘Difficulties don’t matter if dreams are to be turned into reality’
Manoj said that during this time I kept struggling to withdraw money for the rent and many times I found Vada Pav too expensive. But my stomach hunger never defeated my hunger to succeed. After four years of struggle, I got a role in Mahesh Bhatt ‘s TV series. I used to get 1500 rupees for every episode, this was my first permanent salary.
My work was recognized and I got a chance to work in Satya after some time. After this the awards came. I bought my first house and realized that I could stay here. Even after 67 films, I am still there. When you try to turn your dreams into reality, the difficulties do not matter only the trust of that 9-year-old Bihari child matters.