Manoj Bajpayee is currently in the news for his new film Inspector Jhende, which has been released on the Hindi platform Netflix. Along with the film, Manoj Bajpayee’s acting is also being praised a lot. He will soon be seen in Ram Gopal Varma’s Police Station Mein Bhoot and Shekhar Kapur’s Masoom 2.
Satya’s Bhikhu Haatre was a turning point for you, now you are doing the film Police Station Mein Bhoot with Ram Gopal Varma again after 30 years. How did this miracle happen?
Actually, after the re-release of Satya, one day I got a message from Ramu ji (Ram Gopal Varma) that Satya inspired me so much that I have to make a similar film again. A few days later, he sent a story, which was very out-of-the-box and crazy. It was in the horror comedy genre, which I had never touched before, so it was a great opportunity for me, one to work with my mentor and second to try my hand at the horror comedy genre, so I did it.
The Kind Of Films Ram Gopal Varma Has Been Making For The Last Several Years, Do You Feel That The Filmmaker In Him Is Still Alive?
Not just alive, he is very much alive. If you meet him now, you will also get an idea. The Ram Gopal Varma you are talking about is of 12-14 years and every person’s life goes downhill for a few years. Ramu ji also saw that downhill, but today it does not seem that he is the Ramu of the 14 years of our time. I felt like the Ramu of the Bhikhu Hatre era. The same fire, the same passion. One of our schedules got over and I was stunned to see his ability. Today that man is only thinking about the film and the shot. If you go to his social media, he gave his opinion on Stray Dogs after many months, otherwise he remains missing from the internet.
 After Playing Memorable Police Roles In Shool And Bhosle, Did You Have To Work Hard To Give A New Color To Inspector Jhande?
Of course, it took a lot of hard work. It took us a lot of time to reach this. We did 15-20 days of reading and many kinds of preparations before the shooting. But the world of the films you are referring to is completely different from them. Its time, situation, this person is completely different. Madhukar Jhande is completely opposite to all the characters I have played till now.
 The Third Season Of Your Series The Family Man Is Also Going To Come, In Which Jaideep Ahlawat Will Also Be Seen This Time. How Strong Has The Bonding Between You Two Become?
Jaideep Ahlawat is a very promising actor. He did a very good job in Paatal Lok. Be it Vijay Verma or Sunny Hinduja, whenever these actors do something good, I talk to them. I like their work a lot and I believe that it is very important to call a good actor and tell him that he did a good job. These are the promising and capable actors of the industry, who will change the condition and direction of the industry and Jaideep has that ability.
Inspector Jhende Is The Biopic Of Madhukar Jhende Who Caught International Killer Charles Sobhraj Twice. In Such Films, Do The Bad Boys Get More Attention Than The Hero?
I do not agree with this at all. They are attractive and Jim Sarbh has done a wonderful job in this role in the film, but it depends on how you play a character. I think after watching Inspector Jhande, people will start calling me Jhande Kaka. For example, there is Srikant of The Family Man, his name is also on everyone’s lips and hearts, so if a positive character is written well by a writer, directed well by a director and performed well by an actor, then he will look as attractive as a bad boy.
You Are Also Doing The Sequel Of Shekhar Kapur’s Cult Film Masoom. Do You Think Such Iconic Films Should Be Touched?
Now, it is Shekhar Kapur’s film. It is his masterpiece and he is remaking it, so he can make it the way he wants. I have done my first film (Bandit Queen) with him. When I was working in theatre, he cast me, and he said that I have to play a character in it, so I said, of course sir, I will come whenever you say, but this conversation is limited to that. I haven’t spoken to him further yet.
