Manoj Bajpayee recently opened up about his early acting days and his time training with Shah Rukh Khan under acting coach Barry John in New Delhi. Though both actors were in the same batch, Bajpayee feels their paths were very different in both career goals and personalities.
In an interview with Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story, Bajpayee was asked if he ever felt bitter about SRK’s massive success, considering they started around the same time. Bajpayee made it clear that he never felt envious.
Manoj Bajpayee Says Shah Rukh Khan Always Wanted Fame & Attention
He explained, “Shah Rukh Khan always wanted to be loved, to be a star, to be the centre of attention. That was not my target.”
While Shah Rukh Khan was often surrounded by people, Bajpayee was fine with staying out of the spotlight. “I was completely okay with not being surrounded by 20 people in my theatre group. I was completely okay with nobody looking at me. I was completely okay with being a fly on the wall,” he added.
Bajpayee also mentioned that Shah Rukh’s fame never made him insecure. He pointed out, “Your confidence breaks after failure, not because he’s more popular than I am.”
He also reflected on his time with Barry John, who never judged him for not speaking fluent English. “Many times, he would throw this challenge at me,” Bajpayee shared. “Whenever he was doing an English play with Divya (Seth), Rituraj (Singh), or Shah Rukh, he’d give me a small role.”
Actor Says SRK Was A ‘Charming Guy’ Since Theatre Days Itself
Talking about their different worlds, Bajpayee said, “We knew each other, but our friend circle wasn’t the same. People have to understand, we come from different worlds. People ask why we do not meet, and I tell them – We can’t meet. Even back then, he belonged to a ‘khas duniya’.”
Bajpayee added that Shah Rukh was always “a charming guy” who was surrounded by admirers.
While Shah Rukh Khan has enjoyed consistent success in Bollywood, Bajpayee’s career has been marked by standout roles. He gained recognition with Satya and later became a streaming star with The Family Man. Currently, he stars in Despatch by Kanu Behl, showing his range as an actor.
Despite their different career paths, Bajpayee respects Shah Rukh’s journey. However, he remains true to his own style, preferring substance over the glitz of fame.
(Also read: ‘Don’ Song OUT: Shah Rukh Khan’s Powerful Voiceover Meets Diljit Dosanjh’s Chart-Topping Energy In This Vibrant Track)
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