Manoj Bajpayee Remembers The Time He Did Not Have Money To Eat: You Learn How To Survive, It’s A Life Skill

Actor Manoj Bajpayee is awaiting the release of his Netflix series ‘Killer Soup’, which also stars Konkana Sen Sharma. During one of his promotional interactions with Indian Express, the actor remembered the time when he lived in ‘poverty’ while working in the Delhi theatre circuit. However, he soon moved to Mumbai at the insistence of ‘Bandit Queen’ director Shekhar Kapur, and how he began to realise the importance of financial security. 

Looking back at his time, he said that he values theatre more than cinema. Manoj said, “It really prepares you, physically, mentally, emotionally. It really aligns you, and that happens to every actor. But the days were of complete poverty. But those days were when you could not get the time to think about poverty. If you don’t have money to eat, you’re not thinking about eating, because you’re so involved and engrossed in what you’re doing, you’re forgetting that you didn’t have food.” 

Hearing Manoj, his co-star Konkana chimed in and said, “That doesn’t happen to everyone. How lovely that it happened to you, though.” To which, Manoj added that it’s ‘a good thing’ to be broke when you’re young. “You learn how to survive. It’s a life skill,” he said.

Manoj further recalled how Shekhar Kapur asked him to join his fellow theatre actors to try their luck in Mumbai. However, things did not go really well as he moved in with Saurabh Shukla. 

“First few years were very hard, because you’re not doing anything. There’s no difference between a boy coming straight from a small town or a village without any experience in acting, and you coming from a very strong theatre background. When you are without work, poverty pinches you more. It was true for everyone, but Saurabh was far more calmer,” he said.

Meanwhile, Manoj rose to success after a chance encounter with director Ram Gopal Varma. After starring in ‘Daud’, he featured in ‘Satya’, which became a rage.

Next up, he is all set to star alongside Konkona and Sayaji Shinde in the upcoming dark comedy drama series ‘Killer Soup’, which will release on Netflix on January 11.