Manoj Bajpayee is a well-known actor in the Indian film industry who has made a name for himself with his versatile acting skills. He is known for his natural acting style and has impressed both critics and audiences alike with his performances. One of his most memorable roles was in the 2004 film Veer Zaara, directed by Yash Chopra. In an interview, Manoj Bajpayee revealed how Yash Chopra cast him in the film.
In the cross-border love story Veer Zaara, Shah Rukh played an Indian Air Force officer who fell in love with Preity Zinta, a Pakistani politician’s daughter. In a cameo, Manoj Bajpayee featured in the Yash Chopra film.
In an interview when asked how his experience was working with Shah Rukh in Veer Zaara, Bajpayee said he did the romantic drama for Yash Chopra after the filmmaker offered him the special role. “No offense to him Shah Rukh, but I did this film because Mr. Yash Chopra called me up and requested me to be a part of it. He was a big fan of my performance in Pinjar and once he saw the film in Delhi with Lal Krishna Advani ji, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, he was thoroughly impressed with my performance. That’s when he thought of offering me this role.
“It was a guest appearance; I was there only for four-five days. He treated me as well as anyone on the sets. I was welcomed so royally by that film family, the Veer Zaara family. I enjoyed every moment of shooting with Yash Chopra ji,” the actor said. Bajpayee said the film also offered an opportunity for him to reconnect with Shah Rukh, as the two go back to Delhi days when they did theatre together.
“Shah Rukh, I have known for many years from my days in Delhi, so it was also a chance to catch up. Because we don’t meet up, we belong to two different kinds of films and filmmaking. So, it was a chance to catch up with him and also enjoy being on the sets of Mr. Yash Chopra, who had been such a magnificent, successful mainstream director for so many years. We grew up watching his films! We used to chat for a long, both Yash ji and me. He was very clear in telling me, ‘I don’t make films for an actor like you, so I don’t think I would have anything else in the future, but this is very good and it will be great if you agree to do it.’ He was such a humble man,” he added.
Bajpayee was able to prove his worth as an actor and deliver a memorable performance in Veer Zaara. His story is an inspiration to aspiring actors who are looking to make it big in the industry.