New Year Resolution

First of all, best wishes to all of you for the New Year. I was busy elsewhere- sometimes in shootings at Delhi, Mumbai Mahabaleshwar or Hyderabad and in other works on other occasions, and could not post my blog on 1st January. Cold in Delhi was unbearable, but I had to stay for just three days. Still, I could not stop myself from sympathising with the people who are living in the capital city.

So far as climate is concerned, it's time for some blame-games. It's not only individuals, even countries are trying to put blame on others for increasing global warming. The final outcome is that there still is no way out of this hazardous problem. But the problem which is sure to fall us, will affect everybody and has even started affecting us.

They kept crying- stop plastic, plant trees, stop pollution, find a substitute of carbon-emitting vehicles, but who cares! Everyone has his own selfish interests to look after. Be it a factory owner or a common consumer, all of them are busy cleaning their own houses. They prefer to keep their windows close to stop the stench entering their house. And now a days, it's not hard to find perfumes of different varieties to keep the home fresh. But the problem which has already started taking wings, will soon take monstrous propositions. What can be a way out of this hazardous issue? Time will not be on our side to think over it, if we don't do so now. It's time to awake now. May be, you can save yourself and this world. May be, this is the resolution we need to take in this new year.

Rest in next...
It's your's and only your's
Manoj Bajpayee

A cleaner Sea?

Gorai, a beach in Mumbai, is in a location so much aloof from Mumbai. Presently, I am shooting for a film here and staying in a nearby club. The location is almost forty minutes away and living out of Mumbai’s speed and noise is very soothing. Though it’s sad to notice that the beach is very dirty. When’ll people learn to keep them clean? When will the Govt. and administration pay heed?

There are these foreign beaches, situated on city side; their beauty is worth seeing. On the other hand there are Indian beaches, brimming up with garbage. And one can’t find space to even step in there.

At least that is how the scene is where I’m shooting. My brother just called to tell me about the plans of my family for vacationing. I too feel like leaving everything and going back to my village for some time but the circumstances won’t allow me to go. And like everyone, I too feel nostalgic about my place, but I may get a chance to go there sometime in March/ April. This feeling however gave me a question that why did we ever grow up? How did our work become so big that we had to leave everything? But the very next moment prophesied that it was never about meeting the ends but my true love for acting that brought me into this profession. It was always about my passion. But nevertheless, I miss my village.

I have just been able to shrink my shooting time a bit and write this post. We’ll surely talk more next time.

With this
Love
Yours
Manoj Bajpayee

Media Sould not highlight statements which divide country

It has been a long time. Shooting for 'Rajneeti', promotion for movie 'Jail', meetings thereafter and some personal works kept me on my toes all this while. The good thing is that people in general have liked Jail and they have appreciated my performance as well. I request all of you who haven't watched the film as yet, should go to the nearest theatre to watch it. I don't know how much sucessful this film would or the amount of cash it would rake in, I only know that I have been able to do justice with my role. I liked working with Madhur, learnt a lot of things and made a lot of new friends.

These days, people have been asking a lot of questions about language. Some of the politicians have made linguistic and regional issues as their political agenda. Even media is making efforts to highlight their actions, their unworthy statements, making them heroes. Starting from 6 in the morning, such statements keep running as headlines all through the day and then you are asked to give comments on such frivolous statements. I have clarified my position a long time ago, about two years back in a meeting with mediapersons. At that time, I had appealed to politicians to not to give such statements as well as media not to highlight them. If they do so, don't expect us to react to such statements every other day.

But I can just request. Rest depends on those politicians and the media themselves. Who am I to give them directions? But, let me make one thing clear. I am not going to give comments on such statements. I have already registered my protest, against such narrow-minded, language and region-based political agenda. I won't comment on those headlines every second day because I believe there are a lot of other things happening around us, which could otherwise become headline.

Anyway, I will keep coming back to you. I have been trying to talk about your comments since a long time. I will try to do so in my next post.

I will once again request you to watch movie Jail. We have put in a lot of effort in its making. Whether you like it or not, do let me know about your reaction.

My fidgety taste buds….

I am in Bhopal presently, shooting the last schedule of ‘Rajneeti’. During the whole shoot of this film too much indulgence in food prevailed. Though I sometimes exercised too but wondered about the restlessness of my tongue. In Bhopal, every other day we are treated with chicken biryani or a mutton dish. The end of a day’s lunching is immediately followed by planning the other day’s menu. It seems that I am failingly trying to keep my weight in control; reason being the uncertainty behind coming back to Bhopal for shooting again. After almost two and a half years of leaving smoking have I been able to enjoy the real taste of food. And it feels great. It wasn’t so when I was a smoker.

I’d be back to promoting ‘Jail’ afer ‘Rajneeti’ is over. In ‘Jail’, I am playing the character of a jail inmate who’s awarded a life sentence and has left all his hopes to God.

When Madhur offered me this film, I was ready to work in it already without even knowing the story because we have known each other since the days of our struggle. He used to assist Ram Gopal Verma and had also started searching independent work for himself. And I was shooting for Daud with Ram Gopal Verma. We have been great together and ‘Jail’ is certainly a great film.

Madhur makes mainstream films only but his choice of subjects and direction apparently reflects into a film differently and effectively. I find his films confronting the society and I quite like that approach and treatment. I know his film shall be liked by the audiences and now it would be interesting to see the number of people who’ll go watch the movie. I wish Madhur and the team good luck and success. Viewers will have a huge say in the success of ‘Jail’. Watch ‘Jail’ and feel free to appreciate and criticize.

With this…
Yours
Manoj Bajpayee

Shooting at night…

It has been a long time since we talked last, so I thought of having a chat with you all. The latest news around these days is about internal conflicts in parties and Salman Khan buying an IPL team; and I am sufficiently bored of watching news on T.V now. So, I sleep. You may think that I’m out of work or something of that sort.

Actually, these days I am shooting in Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, which is an hour and a half away from the city and there’s nothing in the vicinity except the studio. The studio has two good hotels where one stays when not shooting. So, there’s nothing else to do. I am waiting for my shooting call and in the meanwhile watching T.V also. I also am waiting for the Acid Factory’s promos to air on TV.

I just spoke to the director of Acid Factory and he told me about a song being aired on a channel. In the next three-four days it’s probable that other promos are telecast. I am excited. My excitement is also because we shot the film in the same Ramoji Rao Studios for around a month and enjoyed it a lot.

Squandering here reminded me of those days. I have seen the film myself and think that it gives a full dose of entertainment. It’s a fast entertainer and I liked the film. Now it’s for you to decide how the film is. I won’t say anything further else I’ll be accused of promoting my film on this blog.

I’ll have to go to Bhopal in a few days time for Rajneeti’s shooting and I am so eagerly waiting for this. Also, I am waiting to meet Vijay, my friend of old times. Bhopal is a small but a very beautiful city. I have done some shooting there before and it’ll be exciting to go back again.

These days I am shooting at night and I extremely dislike shooting at night, whatsoever. No matter how much I try to get my director to wind up my work by 12-1 AM, I get no success. The directors somehow fail to understand that I can’t continue to be efficient and energetic at night. This has been a problem with me since I can remember but a commitment is a commitment after all. So be it.

Today I’ll have to stay awake at night again and this is already giving me shivers. I am now waiting for my director’s call.
With this….
Yours
Manoj Bajpayee.

Swine flu…..Oh!...swine flu.

Swine Flu is a panic word that these days can be heard almost everywhere. All around a wave of tension has filled in the air and there are no more masks even after the whole panic attack. People are sending ayurvedic and homeopathic treatments to their loved ones and everyone is fairly concerned about everyone else.

Newspapers, news channels and other sources of information are adding to the apprehensions of people and all of a sudden everyone is so paranoid about getting infection themselves. A mere headache or pains in the leg have become ‘symptoms’ for the flu. People are too anxious and it’s very visible. I think, if the Govt. permits private hospitals to conduct swine flu tests, under supervision, many apprehensions would be solved. Long queues of people waiting for the check-up, aired on TV channels not only scared me but many others too.

Well, this is what I think. I was shooting for a Telugu film and its schedule has been cancelled. As a result I may have to stay at home for almost ten days now; dates of other actors are a problem. This is so common in our profession. Preparations for shooting ‘Rajneeti’ have been started and I have met Prakash Jha for the same. I’ll go there tomorrow too. Also, I just completed dubbing for my animated ‘Ramayan’ but the moment I reached home I saw swine flu laden channels.

My friend Vishal Bharadwaj’s film ‘Kaminey’ is releasing and I’ll definitely go to watch it in the theatre. Though I am worried about contacting various people; the fear is the flu and not the people. And like a conscious citizen I know I should take precautions. But I’ll definitely go watch Kaminey because I love Vishal’s films.

With this…
Your
Manoj Bajpayee

Happy to prove myself…

These days I often visit Hyderabad. Hyderabad has the Telugu film industry and people there start working from 7 in the morning. My friend and actor Ashish Vidyarthi is actively busy with Telugu films and according to him children in Andhra Pradesh are made to work hard since childhood and the Telugu industry is no exception. People in Mumbai are professional too but working in Telugu film was a new experience for me altogether. It seemed like I had never worked so hard before. My directors were happy with my work and I felt like I proved myself on their standards of hard work.

I’m busy with my continuous shooting schedule these days. I leave for work at 6.30 and reach my hotel at around 8 PM. This is followed by a one and a half hour exercise regime in the gym, so by 9 I’m in my hotel again. After this I meet up with my fellow stars from Mumbai staying in the same hotel, dine with them and go to bed at around 11. This is my current daily schedule.

I also went to Mumbai for two days. ‘Acid Factory’ is releasing on 3rd October and its promotion/publicity work has been laid before media. After several weeks of hard work, all the actors of the film were together in this event and it was great meeting them after such a long time. The venue was Sanjay Gupta’s home and everyone stayed back late till 3 AM even after the program was over; no one wanted to go back! After watching the film, everyone was satisfied with the outcome and I think this adds to the experience of making a film.

The promos of the film will be on air in a week or two. I assure you that if you want to enjoy a clean thriller: ‘Acid Factory’ is the film. The decision however lies in your discretion. I’ll be with you to share my experiences all through.

Till then
Yours
Manoj Bajpayee