Congested Mumbai!

There were fresh faces at the park this time and the evening walk was true bliss. The park right opposite to my building has been built in lesser space than usual and it’s mostly occupied with people from nearby localities which makes it congested. I’m afraid the space is getting lesser and lesser.

While strolling in the park that evening I realized that Mumbai has no open space anymore. Children parks are facing extinction and greenery is thinning. There are sky high buildings everywhere and SEZ’s around, about which I’m not much aware. Parks are being replaced by gymnasiums and trees are being cut owing to the so-called development. It’s a disastrous scene and the Govt. should think about it.

Amidst all this there is violence too. People are getting frustrated anywhere and everywhere; Shopian or Lalgarh. The Govt. should have a solution to get over all this. And why should this happen all the time that only when people act violently to get their voices heard, the Govt. responds.

The vote bank politics doesn’t seem to end; firstly, Lok Sabha elections and now the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections. They are not even aware of the real problems of the masses and the masses themselves are following the herd mentality. We are being sidelined by ministers all the time and it’s high time we should question them. I’m just taking out my frustrations on this blog.

I cherish my readers’ comments on my blog. For my fellow readers who have complains regarding my not reading their comments, well, I read them all. It’s not always possible to respond to all of them but in my next post I’ll definitely try to.

With this…

Yours
Manoj Bajpayee

Protest, but legally

The news of the unfortunate Air France air crash was a shattering incident and thinking about the families of deceased, I feel extremely sorry. What would have been the state of those in the flight? Air journey is considered as one of the safest modes of transport but when an accident of this intensity happens anyone would think twice before opting for an air journey. My condolences are with everyone who has suffered the pain of losing their loved ones.

I saw on TV the Shramjeevi express carnage in which the protestors burned the train just because it didn’t stop on a few stations. No matter how important or legitimate the complain was, the way to demand it was definitely sickening and illegitimate. The trains and buses are meant to help the public and when these types of destruction happen forget about the stops, there’ll no more trains to travel on the first place.

There are many ways of registering a complaint and those should be used rather than killing people, hurting them, burning buildings and damaging buses. Are we not destroying our own property by indulging in all of this?

I just completed Madhur’s ‘Jail’ and am working to get back to the old and original Manoj Bajpayee now so that I can prepare for my next film. I’m planning to go to Hyderabad after which I’ll go to Delhi also. After meeting my in laws there I’ll stay with my parents and siblings.

I read somewhere about this particular actor whose blog is being read popularly and some channel has even made it into a program. These TV channel people just can make a half an hour program on even the weirdest of ant-elephant jokes. It’s not important how much the thing is read but important is its contemporariness, its genuineness and justification. I’m happy for being able to take out my frustrations on this blog. I’m happy that I don’t blame anyone and I’m happy that all the people who have joined me are my friends.

I wish that this journey of blogging goes on forever like this. Is it not the aim of a journey to reach the destination safely? Does the time matter? If not, the journey of my life, my acting and my blog continues.

For the ones who are with me, thanks and best.

Yours
Manoj Bajpayee

A birthday to remember..!

I’m in Karjat since a last few days. Karjat is not well connected hence it’s a problem being in touch with people. However, this is a relief in a way but considering the fact that life becomes difficult without a cell phone, it’s problematic at the same time. I’m staying in a resort in Karjat and opposite to my room stay Neil Nitin Mukesh. The best thing about Karjat is that it’s far from the hassles of Mumbai and hence peaceful.

It takes almost two hours from Mumbai to reach Karjat largely because of the traffic reasons. My resort is some 15 minutes away from the studio where we shoot and I’m usually needed in the late afternoon so I get up all relaxed, get my make up done and reach the studio on time.I celebrated my birthday on the 23rd April. I visited home early that morning so that my wife doesn’t feel my birthday being left out. Both of us believe that working on the birthday is auspicious. I was totally surprised by my film unit back in in Karjat when I was shooting for a scene and everyone suddenly appeared with a cake carrying my name and initially embarrassed me as I have never ever celebrated my birthday like this before. Everyone sang the birthday song, wished me and the cake was cut. It was an emotional moment for me and I truly thank everyone for this wonderful and heart warming gesture.

‘Jail’ has been a fairly good experience as of now and I pray to God for the same ahead too. I personally believe that an experience during the making of a film is more important than the film itself, only then can a film be good. Though I won’t be able to talk much about the film but my character is an introvert sort and it gives a totally different sensitivity being able to express such difficult emotions of this character.

I know Madhur Bhandarkar since 14 years now. We struggled together and I now feel very happy for his success on a personal level. When Madhur offered me this role, I said yes without much thinking as I wanted to be part of his success. I have left everything else on Madhur and know that he’ll honestly justify my role. I’m enjoying a one day break and am planning to go to Mumbai too. I’ll continue writing on my blog and hope that the life continues with its full pace too.

With this…
Love
Yours
Manoj Bajpayee

Enough is enough

Enough is enough. I have grown indifferent to reading papers and watching news. Hail politicians for this. The politicians this time have crossed all the boundaries insulting their fellow counterparts. Pulling each others legs, abusing and an evil intent to kill the rivals has become a routine occurrence this elections. However, despite this fact one has to understand the importance of voting in a democracy. We’ll have to choose someone from this lot only, so no other option. A voter of this democracy has completely lost his confidence in the language, speech and the leaders themselves. Presently, no political party can claim that they haven’t disappointed the citizens. Every party has. Every leader has.

16 is far and God knows what all is yet to come. The elections are more or less a joke with no firm values, no manifesto, no ideology and obviously no politics. Interestingly, these aspiring Prime Ministers firmly assert their election. Sadly, what if these incompetent people take the highest seat? I say, we shouldn’t lose hope. Lawlessness would one day maybe lead to a better path and yield responsible inhabitants.

I’m busy with ‘Jail’ presently and will be off to Karjat for an outdoor shoot. It would be like living in Mumbai and still being away; away from the crowd and hassles and lawlessness. Also, I’ll try to use my right to vote with sincerity as this is the only right which WE can fully utilize. I ask everyone not to go by the party name and candidature whatsoever and only vote for the person’s work and character.

With this
Love
Yours
Manoj Bajpayee

A change…

Since last few days I have been trying to get along with people personally who think I’m a difficult person to understand or have some preconceived untruths about me. I have been meeting them irrespective of their will to reconcile or otherwise.

Experimenting is a way to truth as it would not be always right to think of yourselves as a righteous person. Recently many such incidents happened when people believed certain things about me and held grudges I didn’t even acknowledge. Even after this, when I forwarded my hand of friendship towards them either the relations worsened or reconciled. This is the change I have been witnessing in my nature these days and it feels good. Here, one feels and tries to get over the sense of ‘I’.

Since a last few months, it has become my habit to praise someone’s work if I like it, no matter I know the person or not. For instance, I really adored the work of Nishikant Kamath, director of Mumbai Meri Jaan; Neeraj Pandey, director- A Wednesday; Diwakar Bannerjee, director of Oye Lucky; Anurag Kashyap, Dev D’s director; Delhi 6 director Rakeysh Mehra and actors of the film Gulal. And believe me, the satisfaction and happiness that appreciating them gave me was immense and unexplainable. Not that I didn’t like their work before. But earlier I didn’t specifically contact them solely for appreciating their work. This change has untied the knots inside me and the process is likely to go on.

Off late, I talked to my old friend Piyush Mishra regarding his music skills in the film Gulal. People now acknowledge his work and he’s being praised too. I have a learned a lot from him. We have experienced ups and downs together in life. I wish him all the success and happiness ahead. I have seen various sides of him and now it’s your turn to cherish the same. However, this is just a beginning.

Love
Yours
Manoj Bajpayee

I’m not the gangster in ‘Jail’

I’m just back from Bhopal after shooting ‘Rajneeti’. This was the last stage of the schedule and the next schedule is due in the first week of September when all the other actors would be available. Bhopal was an overall good experience and going out of Mumbai felt like taking a free breathe for the first time ever.

The shooting of my second film ‘Jail’ to be directed by Madhur Bhandarkar will start from the second week of April. Contrary to the rumors I would like to state that I’m not playing the gangster in the film. As of now I’ll be unable to reveal the details of my character, also, I’m off late working on my character for ‘Jail’.

Meanwhile, my parents and niece visited my place. I and my wife Shabana are very happy to be with them and are ensuring their comfortable stay in Mumbai.

Amid all this there are elections coming up and I’ve been following them up. It feels good to know that my friend Prakash Jha is contesting from Betia, Bihar. My father is very happy for him too and thinks that he’ll definitely win. According to my father, Prakash ji has worked a lot for the people of Betia and has spent a lot of time with them too. I think he deserves a win if he has worked selflessly for the betterment of people and I hope that Prakash ji not only wins the Lok Sabha but also prove himself as far as the wishes and aspirations of people are considered.

Someone asked me once if it fine for the people from the film industry to come into politics? I said, “It’s thousand times better than to elect a criminal. A film person is in someway or the other attached with the common masses and is sensitive to the feelings and needs of the people.

I hereby request all the voters to not go for party name and their symbols as such, rather choose the deserving candidate who in reality possesses the abilities to be their representative. I personally feel that elections are not a testing time for the candidates but for the voters actually. I wish that we use this opportunity and right intelligently and choose a civilized, smart, honest and just representative for ourselves and our Nation.

With this hope...

Love
Yours
Manoj Bajpayee

The quest is on…

The first schedule of Rajneeti ended in Bhopal today. I’m planning to return to Mumbai now after having a great time there. For the first time in life, I worked with Nana Patekar, Ajay Devgan, Arjun Rampal, Dayashankar Pande and Chetan and the wholesome experience was amazing. We struggled through shots but as always, I tried to put in my best efforts and energy to the scenes.

It usually happens that by the time you reach the hotel, you are mentally exhausted. Also, you need to be fit and hence exercising becomes important. It’s physically stressing. The busy schedule doesn’t allow any relaxations, but we need to work. Doing something that I am is something I had always dreamed about. And how many people in this world are doing things they desire? I really feel blessed in this context.

I’m meeting a good friend of mine, Vijay Jajauria. Vijay stays in Bhopal and we studied together at Delhi University. I have not been able to meet him since a long time owing to the distance between Mumbai and Bhopal. Last time when we met was when I was shooting for Shool in Bhopal. Whenever I come to shoot Rajneeti, I meet him and his family and I really feel so happy for him. He’s content with his family life and business life. He has seen enough of Delhi and Mumbai, but was always connected to Bhopal. He wanted peace and serenity more than anything, which is why he chose to live in Bhopal. Vijay is where he wanted to be and I’m so proud of him.

I’m going through such a phase in my life where I feel like living outside Mumbai. I love shooting in small towns and meeting people there. Seemingly big cities don’t appeal to me anymore but living in a city like Mumbai is a prerequisite for someone in a profession like me. So no choices.

I’m in a constant quest for searching peace and I’m sure that I’ll find a way out soon.

With this…

Love
Yours
Manoj Bajpayee