Manoj Bajpayee Says Relatives Wanted Him To Quit Acting: Never Believed Mujhse Nahi Ho Payega - EXCL

Manoj

Bajpayee has inspired generations of actors to pursue a career in the Hindi film industry. He took the leap of faith and built a life for himself in Mumbai. His journey from Bihar to the National School of Drama and then Bollywood has been nothing but inspirational. Now, as Manoj gears up for the release of Governor on June 12, the veteran actor revealed whether he was discouraged from acting in movies, particularly in the early years. In an exclusive interview with Times Now Anchor and News Editor Heena Gambhir, Bajpayee recalled the times he was told ‘Tumse Na Ho Payega’.

Manoj Bajpayee recalls relatives saying 'tumse nahi ho payega'

In conversation with Anchor and News Editor, Heena Gambhir, for Times Now, Manoj said, “Haan haan, bilkul. Ek nahi bohot logon ne kahan nahi ho payega, yeh chhod do. Iss line mein kisika kuch nahi hota hai (Translation: Yes, definitely. Not just one, many told me that I wouldn’t make it big in movies and should quit. There’s nothing I could do here.) I hear it from many Gen-Z children that their parents and relatives are discouraging.”

When asked if he was ever advised to return to Bihar, Bajpayee added, “Many of my relatives told me [to quit], but they never said go back to Bihar. When I started acting, somehow it never occurred to me that I had any visible critic of anything I was doing.”

Manoj Bajpayee on passion, belief and conviction in his craft

The actor further shared how his self-belief and conviction helped him navigate through a career in Hindi cinema. “NSD mein teen chaar baar nahi ho paya, tabhi nahi laga ki nahi ho payega. Mujhe laga yehi log galat hai. Ek passion tha, ek belief tha, aur conviction tha apne aap ko leke. Mujhe conviction ne mehnat karaya hai. Main mehnat bohot kar sakta hu aur agar mere mein kami hai, toh main usko sudhar sakta hu aur aage ja sakta hu. (Translation: I failed three-four times at NSD, and even then, I refused to believe I couldn’t make it through. I thought those people were wrong. I was passionate, had faith in myself and was convinced about my passion. Conviction has always made me work harder. I can work hard and fix my flaws.) Life ka mantra yehi hai ki don’t let anyone and anything’s rejection determine who you are and what you can do,” Manoj shared.

About Governor

Governor is based on true events and explores a defining chapter in India’s history when the nation faced an unprecedented financial crisis that tested its resilience. Set during a period of immense uncertainty and high-stakes decision-making, Manoj plays the role of a Governor, who is entrusted with steering the country through turbulent times. Directed by Chinmay Mandlekar and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah under Sunshine Pictures, Governor is co-written by Suvendu Bhattacharyjee, Saurabh Bharat, Ravi Asrani, and Vipul. The movie releases on June 12.