Manoj Bajpayee on His Triple Play With Festival Hit ‘The Fable,’ Thriller ‘Despatch’ and Prime Video’s ‘Family Man’: ‘My Audience Is Getting Wider and Wider’ (EXCLUSIVE)

As a seasoned movie connoisseur who’s seen his fair share of Bollywood brilliance, I must say Manoj Bajpayee is truly reaching new heights with his latest projects. The Fable, a captivating tale that resonated deeply with him during his personal transition into a more spiritual phase of life, showcases the actor’s versatility and depth like never before.


Manoj Bajpayee, a renowned Indian actor, continues to garner acclaim as “The Fable,” his latest project, gains momentum on the international festival circuit. Having premiered at the Berlinale, it will now be screened at Valladolid’s SEMINCI and the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.

The movie portrays a content family, headed by Dev (Bajpayee), living as proprietors of a sprawling Himalayan orchard. However, a string of enigmatic fires creates doubt about their true identities. Directed by Raam Reddy, known for the Locarno-winning film “Thithi”, this movie struck a chord with Bajpayee during a period of personal change in his life.

Bajpayee shared with EbMaster that the movie coincided with a shift in his personal journey towards a more spiritual phase of life. At that moment, he wasn’t inclined to engage with ambition or objectives, but rather sought something he had been pursuing for quite some time.

The performer instantly formed a strong bond with his character, Dev. “I empathized with it,” Bajpayee expressed. “I could grasp what Dev was experiencing, his internal battles and struggles,” he added. “Dev was being drawn into the materialistic aspects of life, which had been passed down from his father and grandfather.

In my perspective, portraying Dev’s emotional odyssey was a distinctly challenging endeavor for the actor, requiring a profound use of silence to express the intricate emotions swirling within his character – the turmoil, the yearning to disconnect from the chaos and the estate, yet being unable to fully let go. That’s what Bajpayee shared with us.

Filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, “The Fable” has been chosen for various international film festivals. Bajpayee appreciates this accolade: “I value the term ‘international’ less than seeing my audience grow wider and wider. It’s a fantastic sensation that most of my films are being screened in one esteemed film festival or another.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share my anticipation for “Despatch,” starring the talented Nawazuddin Siddiqui Bajpayee. This captivating film, masterfully directed by Kanu Behl – known for his works like “Titli” and “Agra” in Cannes – is all set to make its debut at the Mumbai Film Festival.

Manoj Bajpayee on His Triple Play With Festival Hit ‘The Fable,’ Thriller ‘Despatch’ and Prime Video’s ‘Family Man’: ‘My Audience Is Getting Wider and Wider’ (EXCLUSIVE)

The actor admires Behl’s intense method: “Kanu Behl is an exceptional director. Every aspiring young actor should consider themselves fortunate enough to have a chance to work with him at least once in their career. The training sessions and film takes he subjects you to are all part of something bigger – the immense knowledge of filmmaking and acting that you gain from him is truly unique.

Actor Bajpayee, recognized twice at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (for “Bhonsle” and “Aligarh”) and thrice at India’s National Film Awards (“Bhonsle,” “Pinjar,” and “Satya”), has seen his fame grow even more with Prime Video series “The Family Man.” In this successful show, currently in production for Season 3, Bajpayee plays Srikant Tiwari, a middle-class Mumbai resident who conceals his identity as an intelligence officer.

Supporters of “The Family Man” can eagerly anticipate an action-packed third season. As Bajpayee hints, this installment promises to be significantly larger in scope, and the narrative is set to become more intricate. Srikant Tiwari finds himself in a vastly deeper predicament, one that requires him to extricate himself not only for his own survival but also to protect his family and keep his job.

Actor Bajpayee has finished working on an unnamed Indo-American project directed by Ben Rekhi (“Watch List”). He explains, “It’s a drama with a unique perspective since it takes place in India, but the storytelling is unlike anything we’ve seen before because the director is American, so his viewpoint will be quite distinct.

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2024-10-16 12:46