Manoj Bajpayee and his wife Shabana Raza both had a memorable July 1998. That was when Manoj became a household name after playing the ruthless gangster Bhiku Mhatre in Ram Gopal Varma‘hit crime film’Satya‘. At the same time, Shabana entered the world of acting with the romantic film ‘Kareeb’, opposite Bobby Deol, produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film might have failed to impress the audience in theatres, but Shabana managed to win many hearts with her natural and convincing performance as Neha.
Manoj Bajpayee how he loves Shabana
Speaking to SCREEN, Bajpayee opened up about how his love story with Shabana started the moment they crossed paths at a party, saying it was nothing short of love at first sight. She said, “Kareeb was also celebrated, and he became the find of the year. I really fell in love with him when I saw him and interacted with him. We are in love. It was from the first day itself that we actually started dating”.
Why Shabana never visited Manoj Bajpayee on the set?
Beyond their personal bond, Bajpayee also feels that having Shabana as his partner is also a blessing in his professional life. His deep understanding of the film industry and his thoughtful nature helped them maintain a healthy balance. One of the clearest examples of this is his firm decision to never act on his sets. “My wife is very receptive and sensitive about these things. This shows in her decision not to visit me on set. Because somewhere in the beginning itself, he accepts that Manoj is different and he is not ready to accept this Manoj, where he does not feel accepted or unwanted. That was the time she decided not to come to the set,” the actor recalled.
Manoj Bajpayee calls it a different kind of understanding
Bajpayee admitted that there were times when he wanted Shabana to be with him on set, but he always restrained himself, knowing that it was ultimately for his own good. And as an actor himself, he really understands why. “That’s good because as an artist, he understood that it would be stupid if he asked for my attention at this point. What he did and went through was different, where he didn’t enter that zone. It is a different kind of understanding,” Bajpayee argued.
Manoj Bajpayee’s journey from ‘Satya’ to ‘The Family Man: ‘
After seven years of dating, Shabana finally tied the knot with Bajpayee in 2006, and the couple welcomed their daughter Ava Nayla into the world in 2011. Shabana retired from acting in 2009, but has been by Bajpayee’s side in every phase of his incredible journey, from his breakout role in Satya to his breakthrough in The Family Man for almost three decades. Reflecting on his career graph, Bajpayee believes that even though people may see his journey differently, not much has changed from his point of view. “In people’s eyes, my career has changed. But in reality, nothing has changed because even then, I wasn’t doing the films that were coming to me. So, the situation remains the same,” Bajpayee said.
Manoj Bajpayee for his slow and steady financial growth
When it comes to his financial growth, Bajpayee revealed that it has been a slow and steady rise rather than an overnight turnaround brought about by the success of any film. “Initially, when you do films as an actor, the salary is not good. It takes years before you start asking for your own price. So, the circumstances remain the same. It’s just that there was a little bit of comfort in terms of the money,” added the actor.He goes on to share how tight things were in his early days, when even the smallest expense required careful thought. “Now, it’s become easier. But it’s still not easy that I just go to a showroom and buy a car (laughs). It took me about seven to eight years before I started asking for my price,” Bajpayee revealed.
Manoj Bajpayee says that not just one film changes everything
Looking back at the timeline, one can point to his supporting role in Yash Chopra’s blockbuster romantic drama ‘Veer-Zaara’ in 2004, six years after ‘Satya’, as a turning point, especially since Bajpayee mentioned that he was paid as a leading actor in the film. However, he is quick to dismiss the idea that any film can completely change an actor’s career. For Bajpayee, it’s always been about creating a body of work that speaks for itself over time. “This is my experience in the industry. You continue to accumulate good work and continue to create your credibility, and then people will start to respect you. To get that entry into any office, you have to prove it for a long time. That is still relevant,” added the actor.