Actor, Manoj Bajpayee is currently basking in the rave reviews he is receiving for his gritty performance as ‘Joy Bag’ in Kanu Bahl’s Despatch. While the film itself has received a rather lukewarm reception, Manoj is being hailed for his commitment to portraying his unlikeable character. The actor, who is busy with promotions for the film, recently opened up about his experience on the sets of another film he starred in, 1971. Manoj recounted facing more than one harrowing near-death experience while shooting the film.
Manoj Bajpayee recounts Manav Kaul’s playful antics resulting in a near-death experience
Manoj Bajapyee recently appeared for a candid chat with the Lallantop, and recalled the many near-death experiences he faced on the sets of 1971. According to the actor, the cast and crew had been filming in Manali when actor, Manav Kaul unintentionally put everyone’s lives in danger in an attempt to have fun. Manoj recounted:
“We had 2-3 near-death experiences during the filming of 1971. One particularly terrifying moment occurred while we were all sitting in a jeep—Ravi Kishan, myself, Manav Kaul, Kumud Mishra, and Deepak Dobriyal. The scene required the jeep to come down from a hill and stop in front of the camera, with a valley to its right. At the time, Manav was a carefree, waggish boy who loved to tease me.”
Further reflecting on the incident, Manoj stated that he had cautioned Manav, who was driving, to be careful on his way down the hill since the terrain was tricky. However, the young, playful actor merely thought Manoj was scared and decided to mess with him. Manav, who wasn’t a very skilled driver, then lost control of the car in an attempt to tease his co-star. Manoj continued the story, narrating:
“The jeep veered toward the valley. For a moment, we all thought this was the end. At that time, we all believed that we are going to die.. Manav’s face turned pale with fear. Somehow, a big rock stopped the jeep on the edge of the valley and I asked everyone not to move. Then the team took us out of the jeep carefully one by one. It was deadly.” When asked if he has met Manav Kaul since the incident, Manoj jokingly replied, “Every time I meet him now, I just swear at him!”
Manoj recalled another near-catastrophe he faced on the 1971 sets when he hadn’t realised he was developing frostbite. Luckily for the actor, a former Army man working with the crew caught on to what was happening and graciously spent an hour massaging his leg to help him recover.
Manoj Bajpayee reveals why he’s no longer invited to Bollywood parties
Earlier, in a SCREENS episode titled Dear Me, Manoj Bajpayee revealed that he was never invited to Bollywood parties. According to the actor, after he initially declined offers, people stopped asking him altogether because they didn’t want to feel insulted or offended by his absence. Manoj stated that this suited him just fine as he liked to sleep by 10-10:30 pm and eagerly looked forward to his early mornings.
Manoj Bajpayee says his self-respect is often misunderstood as arrogance
In the same interview with SCREENS, Manoj Bajpayee opened up about people perceiving him as arrogant because he is reserved. The actor confessed that he was fiercely protective of his privacy. However, he also emphasised that most people understand his true nature once they actually get to know him. Revealing that he prioritises his self-respect, Manoj said:
“If somebody thinks I am arrogant, so be it. The day they come to sit with me and know me, all of these things will be taken care of. I am a grateful man. I am not arrogant, but I do have a lot of self-respect.”
What do you think about Manoj Bajpayee’s revelations about his near-death experiences?
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