Manoj Bajpayee finds new fan following 'claustrophobic'; he explains why
What's the story
Manoj Bajpayee, one of India's most acclaimed actors, recently revealed that he has never sought the conventional path to superstardom. In a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, the four-time National Award winner spoke about his "conscious choice" to stay away from the glitz and glamor of Bollywood. He shared why he feels "claustrophobic" when surrounded by new fans today.
Career path
'I've never had those kinds of reactions coming from audience'
Bajpayee, who has starred in a variety of films from critically acclaimed classics to average ones, said his career choices were aimed at focusing on performance rather than popularity. He said, "I have been working. I have never gotten into a space where people are chasing me or following me..." "I've never had those kinds of reactions coming from the audience."
Stardom struggles
His thoughts on new fan following
Bajpayee admitted that the recent boom in OTT platforms has introduced him to a new fan following, but he finds it overwhelming. He said, "When I'm surrounded by new fans now, I find it claustrophobic because this is not what I'm used to." "Look...Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, they are used to it. They got their stardom at the age of 25-26." "They don't even know what it is to be without fans. I am used to having no fans."
New release
Meanwhile, check out his latest film 'Jugnuma'
Despite feeling uneasy with fame, Bajpayee continues to take on diverse roles. His latest film, Jugnuma (The Fable), directed by Raam Reddy, premiered in theaters on Friday. Set in the late 1980s, the film tells the story of Dev (played by Bajpayee), who comes across mysteriously burned trees in his Himalayan fruit orchards. The movie also stars Deepak Dobriyal, Tillotama Shome, Priyanka Bose, Awan Pookot, and Hiral Sidhu.