Manoj Bajpayee recently opened up about his early days in acting, specifically his time training under Barry John in Delhi, where he was in the same batch as Shah Rukh Khan. Reflecting on their different journeys, Manoj shared that despite training together, their personalities and ambitions were starkly different.
In an interview with Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story, Manoj revealed that Shah Rukh Khan always wanted to be loved, admired, and at the center of attention. According to Manoj, this desire to be a star was never his goal. He stated, “I was completely okay with not being surrounded by 20 people in my theatre group. I was okay with nobody looking at me. I was fine with being a fly on the wall.”
Manoj further explained that while they knew each other, their friend circles were distinct. He pointed out that they came from "different worlds," with Shah Rukh being surrounded by people at all times due to his charismatic personality. “Even back then, he belonged to a 'khas duniya,'" Manoj said, implying that Shah Rukh's appeal made him a focal point of attention, whereas Manoj preferred a more solitary, introspective existence.
Manoj also mentioned that people often wonder why they don’t meet often, to which he responded that they simply couldn’t, due to the stark differences in their lifestyles and aspirations.
Manoj's latest film, Despatch, directed by Kanu Behl, was released on ZEE5 on December 13, adding another impressive project to his diverse filmography.
