Quick Info→
Education: BA In History Hons
Wife: Shabana Raza (Neha)
Age: 56 Years
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Other name | Manoj Bajpai check sources The Times of India |
| Profession(s) | Actor, Producer |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters**- 175 cm** in meters**- 1.75 m** in feet & inches**- 5’ 9”** |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Career | |
| Debut | TV (Hindi; As an actor): Shikast (1993) as a dumb who was one of the associates of the goon; aired on Doordarshan  Film (Hindi; As an actor): Bandit Queen (1994) as dacoit Maan Singh  Film (Telugu; As an actor): Prema Katha (1999) as Sankaram  Film (Tamil; As an actor): Samar (2013) as Rajesh Arunachalam  Web Series (Hindi; As an actor): The Family Man (2019) as Srikant Tiwari  |
| Awards & Honours | National Film Awards • 1999: Best Supporting Actor for the Hindi film Satya • **2004:** Special Jury Award for the Hindi film Pinjar • 2021: Best Actor for the Hindi film Bhonsle  • 2024: Special Mention for the Hindi film Gulmohar Filmfare Awards • 1999: Best Actor (Critics) for the Hindi film Satya • 2000: Best Actor (Critics) for the Hindi film Shool • **2017:** Best Actor (Critics) for the Hindi film Aligarh • 2021: Best Actor in A Short Film for Taandav  Asia Pacific Screen Awards • 2016: Best Performance By An Actor for the Hindi film Aligarh • 2019: Best Performance By An Actor for the Hindi film Bhonsle  Filmfare OTT Awards • 2020: Best Actor In A Drama Series (Critics) for the web series The Family Man 1  • 2021: Best Actor In A Drama Series (Critics) for the web series The Family Man 2 • 2023: Best Actor (Male) in Web Originals for the film ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ (26 November 2023)  Screen Awards • 1999: Best Supporting Actor for the Hindi film Satya • **2002:** Best Actor in a Negative Role for the Hindi film Aks Zee Cine Awards • 1999: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male for the Hindi film Satya  • 2002: Best Performance in a Negative Role for the Hindi film Aks Festival Awards • 2016: Best Actor Award by Jagran Film Festival Aligarh • 2018: Best Actor Award by New York Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival for Gali Guleiyan • 2021: Best Actor in a Web Series by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne for the web series The Family Man Other Awards • 2013: Best Actor Award by Stardust Awards fro the Hindi film Gangs of Wasseypur • 2016: Bihar Film Ratna Award  • 2019: Padma Shri for his contribution to the arts  • 2021: FOI Online Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role in the Hindi film Bhonsle |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 23 April 1969 (Wednesday) |
| Age (as of 2025) | 56 Years |
| Birthplace | Belwa Village in Narkatiaganj, West Champaran, Bihar |
| Zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Signature |  |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Champaran, Bihar |
| School(s) | • A hut school in his village (not named at that time) • St. Stanislaus Mission Middle School, Bettiah, Bihar • Khrist Raja High School, Bettiah, Bihar • Maharani Janaki Kunwar College, Bettiah, Bihar (class 11 and 12) |
| College/University | Ramjas College, Delhi |
| Educational Qualification | • BA in History Hons at Ramjas College, Delhi • MA in the Pali language at Ramjas College, Delhi (dropped out) check sources |
| Religion | Hinduism check sources The Times of India |
| Caste | Brahmin check sources The Times of India |
| Clan | Devout check sources The Times of India |
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian check sources Hindustan Times |
| Office Address | 902 B Wing, Oberoi Sky Heights Co-Op Hsg Socy Ltd. Lokhandwala Complex, Nr Joggers Park, Andheri (W) Mumbai |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Affairs/Girlfriends | Neha aka Shabana Raza (actor) |
| Marriage Date | First Marriage- Early 1990s Second Marriage- April, 2006 |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | First Wife- Name Not Known (div. 1995) Second Wife- Neha aka Shabana Raza  |
| Children | Son- None Daughter- Ava Rayla Bajpayee (born in 2011)  |
| Parents | Father- Radhakant Bajpai (farmer) (died in October 2021 at the age of 83) check sources Hindustan Times  Mother- Geeta Bajpayee (died on 8 December 2022 in a hospital in Delhi at the age of 80) check sources Hindustan Times  |
| Siblings | Brother(s)- 2 • Sujit Kumar Bajpayee Vinay (joint secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)  Sister(s)- 3 • Kamini Shukla • Poonam Dubey (fashion designer) • Garima Bajpayee  |
| Favourites | |
| Actor(s) | Amitabh Bachchan , Naseeruddin Shah |
| Actress(es) | Smita Patil , Tabu |
| Film Director(s) | Shekhar Kapur , Ram Gopal Varma |
| Food | Biryani, Penne Pasta |
| Dessert | Kulfi |
| Street Food | Vada Paao |
| Style Quotient | |
| check sources Koimoi check sources Auto Bizz Car Collection |
• BMW 5-Series (Rs 55 lakh) • Mercedes GLE Coupe (Rs 1.27 crore) • Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza (Rs 12 lakh) • Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (Rs 1 crore) • Mercedes-Benz GLS 400d 4MATIC (Rs 1.27 crore) • Toyota Fortuner (Rs 35 lakh) • Mahindra Scorpio (Rs 15 lakh) |
| Money Factor | |
| Income/Fees (approx.) | Rs 5-6 crore per film (as of 2022) check sources Mens XP |
| Assets/Properties | He owns an apartment worth Rs 4 crore in Andheri, Mumbai check sources Mens XP |
| Net Worth (approx.) | Rs 118 crore (as of 2022) check sources Mens XP |
Manoj Bajpayee is an Indian actor and producer who has received National Awards for the Hindi films ‘Satya’ (1999), ‘Pinjar’ (2004), and ‘Bhonsle’ (2021). He was revered with the Padma Shri Award in 2019.
He used to participate in doha and poem competitions while he was studying in school.
An old picture of Manoj Bajpayee
His father wanted to become a doctor but due to financial constraints, he could not pursue his dreams. So, he wanted Manoj to become a doctor.
His parents named him Manoj after the veteran Indian actor Manoj Kumar . check sources Live Mint However, in his teens, he felt that he needs to change his name as Manoj was a common name in Bihar at that time. He wanted to change his name to Samar, but when he came to know that he had to follow a legal procedure with a fee to change his name, he dropped the idea and decided that he would change his name after he started earning. However, he dropped the idea of changing his name after his brother’s advice. Manoj used Samar as his character’s name in the Hindi film ‘Shool’ (1999). check sources News 18 In an interview, Manoj shared that his surname was wrongly spelt in many films as Bajpai instead of Bajpayee. At the beginning of his acting career, his surname was written as Bajpai in film credits, however, later, he made sure that his name was spelt correctly. check sources The Times of India
In his teens, he read interviews of the veteran Indian actors Naseeruddin Shah and Raj Babbar in which it was written that they had studied at the National School of Drama, Delhi. Manoj then decided that he would also study at the NSD. So, he decided to pursue his higher studies, he would go to Delhi.
After completing his schooling, Manoj got admission to Satyawati College in Delhi, but he wanted to study at Ramjas College in Delhi. So, he waited for a year and on a drama quota, he got admission to Ramjas College.
Manoj Bajpayee in his younger days
While he was studying at Ramjas College, he participated in various stage plays and nukkad nataks. Thereafter, Manoj participated in theatre plays of the Hindu College Dramatics Society. Some of the theatre plays in which he has performed are William Shakespeare’s plays, Comedy of Errors, Ganashatru, and Ginni Pig. Meanwhile, he applied for the National School of Drama but was rejected. He then came to know about the theatre group Sambhav Theatre Group, Delhi and from there he pursued a one-year acting course for a fee of Rs 2500. At that time, his family’s financial condition was not good. His father used to send him Rs 200 for monthly expenses and with that money, he used to pay the rent of his room and other bills and saved only Rs 20 per month. To save the travelling expenses, he enrolled himself in MA in the Pali language at Ramjas College and with the college bus pass, he used to travel from his room to the theatre group.
He even joined language classes to improve his Hindi and English language.
After completing the acting course from Sambhav Theatre Group, he applied for the NSD, but he was again rejected. He was so disappointed after the rejection that he even thought of committing suicide. check sources The Indian Express
Later, while he was performing in one of the theatre plays, he met the Indian actor Raghubir Yadav who suggested him to pursue his acting classes under the famous theatre artist Barry John . On his advise, Manoj joined the classes where Shah Rukh Khan was his batchmate.
Manoj Bajpayee and Barry John
Barry John was so impressed with Manoj’s acting skills that he hired Manoj as a theatre action group member for a salary of Rs 1200. Barry John even advised him to quit applying for the NSD, but it was Manoj’s dream to study at the NSD, so he applied for the third time, but he was rejected. However, on the fourth attempt, he was offered an acting teacher job at the NSD.
In an interview, Manoj shared that Barry helped him throughout his struggling days and worked on his English language. He further said that he considers Barry his acting guru. check sources
While he was associated with Barry John, he was selected to perform in a theatre play in France. However, Manoj’s financial condition was not good, and he didn’t even have the money to buy a flight ticket to France. His friends then helped him in buying a plane ticket. check sources
Manoj got the inspiration to make his career in Bollywood after he watched the 1973 Bollywood film ‘Zanjeer.’
Manoj, along with other Indian theatre artists like Gajraj Rao , N.K. Sharma, and Arvind Babbal, started a theatre group named ‘The Act One’ in Delhi.
In 1992, he got an offer to act in the Hindi film ‘Bandit Queen.’ Initially, he was offered the role of the daku Vikram Mallah. However, the role was then given to Nirmal Pandey and Manoj was given a small role of Maan Singh. check sources Live Mint
Manoj then appeared in the Hindi TV serials like ‘Imtihaan’ (1995), ‘Swabhimaan’ (1995), and ‘Badaltey Rishte’ (1996).
A still of Manoj Bajpayee from the TV serial Badaltey Rishtey
He came into the limelight with his role as Bhiku Mhatre in the Hindi film ‘Satya’ for which he received his first National Award.
During the premiere of the Satya, he met the Indian actress Neha aka Shabana Raza. In an interview, Manoj talked about his first meeting with Neha, he said that she was sitting in a corner with oily hair and wearing spectacles which was not a common thing with the Bollywood actress. He liked her simplicity and connected with her instantly. They became good friends at the party and after a few months, they started dating each other. After dating for almost eight years, the couple got married in April 2006.
Manoj has acted in many award-winning films like ‘Shool’ (1999), ‘Aks’ (2002), ‘LOC: Kargil’ (2003), ‘Raajneeti’ (2010), ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ (2012), and ‘Bhonsle’ (2018).
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Gangs of Wasseypur (2012)
Manoj, along with Amitabh Bachchan , jumped from a height of 30 feet for a waterfall scene in the film ‘Aks’ (2001).
A downfall in his career started in 2004 after his Hindi film ‘Inteqam: The Perfect Game’ was released. The film was a massive flop at the box office. He then delivered back-to-back flop films like ‘Bewafaa’ (2005), ‘Fareb’ (2005), ‘Dus Kahaniyaan’ (2007), ‘Money Hai Toh Honey Hai’ (2008), and ‘Jail’ (2009). However, his performance in the Hindi films like ‘Kaun’ (1999), ‘Zubeidaa’ (2001), ‘Special 26’ (2013), and ‘Sonchiriya’ (2019) received great appreciation.
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Special 26
Some of his dialogues from Hindi films became very popular. Some of such dialogues are “Mumbai ka king kaun? … Bhiku Mhatre,” and “Karna hai, toh karna hai” from the film ‘Satya’ (1988), “Aap the zero, hai zero, aur aap humesha rahenge zero” from the film ‘Aarakshan’ (2011), “Hazrat hazrat hazrat” from ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ (2012), and “Badshah ki gali mein aake uska pata nahi poochte… ghulamo ke jhuke hue sarr khud ba khud raasta bata dete hai” from the film ‘Shootout At Wadala’ (2013).
Manoj hosted the Zee TV quiz show ‘Kam Ya Zyaada’ in 2005.
Kam Ya Zyaada TV show
He has also acted in a few Telugu films such as ‘Happy’ (2006), ‘Puli’ (2010), and ‘Vedam’ (2010).
He has lent his voice to the Hindi animated films ‘Ramayana: The Epic’ (2010; as Rama) and ‘Mahabharat’ (2013; as Yudhisthira).
In 2014, he appeared in the Tamil film ‘Anjaan.’
Manoj has acted in a few Hindi short films such as ‘Jai Hind’ (2015), ‘Taandav’ (2016), ‘Kriti’ (2016), and ‘Ouch’ (2016).
Ouch short film poster
In 2016, he received an offer to play a role in the Hindi film ‘Dangal,’ but he rejected the offer as he did not like the role offered to him. check sources Bollywood Life
In the same year, he was rejected from the Hindi film ‘Chalk N Duster.’ He was offered the role of quiz master in the film, but the producer of the film Juhi Chawla found his looks unsuitable for the role and replaced Manoj with Rishi Kapoor in the film.
He started his film production company named Manoj Bajpayee Productions Private Limited, Mumbai on 25 March 2014. Under his banner, he produced the 2018 Hindi films ‘Missing’ and ‘Bhonsle.’
Bhonsle film poster
In September 2020, he gave his voice and performed in a Bhojpuri rap song that rips into the romanticisation of big cities from the point of view of a male migrant worker. Directed by Anubhav Sinha with lyrics by Dr Sagar and music by Anurag Saikia, the song speaks of a male migrant worker’s longing for home and “chokha-baati” while he toils in the big city. Throughout the song, the refrain is “Bambai Main Ka Ba” (What is there in Bombay?).
Bambai Main Ka Ba
In 2021, he appeared in the Hindi web series ‘Ray’ for a segment titled ‘Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa.’
Ray poster
In the same year, he worked as a narrator in the Discovery Plus TV show ‘Secrets of Sinauli’ (2021).
Secrets of Sinauli (2021)
In 2022, he appeared in the Hindi song ‘Kudi Meri’ in which he also worked as a singer.
Kudi Meri (2022)
Manoj is trained in Chhau, a semi-classical dance form. check sources
The Indian actor Pankaj Tripathi considers Manoj his idol. During a talk show, Pankaj shared that while he was working at a hotel, Manoj was staying in the same hotel and forgot his slippers there. Pankaj was so inspired by Manoj that out of respect, he kept his slippers with him.
In 2021, the Indian film critic Kamaal R Khan made a demeaning tweet against Manoj after which Manoj filed a police complaint against him for defamation. check sources Koimoi The tweet reads,
Last night, I was talking with Sunil Pal & he told me the story of the #FamilyMan web series. Manoj Bajpayee’s wife is having a boyfriend. Manoj’s minor daughter is also having a boyfriend. #AaaThoo! Sharam Nahi Aati Iss Nasedi, Ganjedi Bajpayee Ko Aisi p*rn Parosne main. Laanat hai.” He also compared Manoj to Raj Kundra, who was arrested back then for his alleged involvement in the illegal creation of p*rn content.”
In 2022, Manoj met the Indian politician Lalu Prasad Yadav hinting towards joining politics. Later, the Indian politician Tejashwi Yadav took to his Twitter account to share the news that Manoj would join Rashtriya Janata Dal. Yadav tweeted,
बिहार की माटी के लाल,हिंदी सिनेमा के सुप्रसिद्ध एवं संजीदा अभिनेता पद्मश्री @BajpayeeManoj जी आवास पर मिलने पहुँचे और पिता श्री @laluprasadrjd जी के स्वास्थ्य लाभ की जानकारी प्राप्त की। इन्होंने मेहनत व काबिलियत के बदौलत फिल्म इंडस्ट्री में पहचान बना बिहार को गौरवान्वित किया है।”
In 2022, a book titled ‘Manoj Bajpayee: Kuch Pane Ki Zid’ was published on the life of Manoj Bajpayee. In the book, the author Piyush Pandey shared an interesting incident from Manoj’s school life. He wrote,
Whenever roll number 44 was called in the class, and the voice of the present head echoed in the class, an inexplicable smile floated on Manoj’s face, which is called ‘blush’ in English. The ‘distribution’ of the girl of their choice among the boys of the class was done according to the roll number without the knowledge of the girl. Because of this untold love, friends started calling Manoj Fortyfourwa.”
Manoj Bajpayee- Kuch Pane Ki Zid
In an interview, Manoj shared that he daily practised Yoga and meditation. He then listened to Sufi music, bhajans, and Buddhist chants.
Manoj has a fear of dogs. check sources Rediff
He has quit smoking cigarettes and consuming alcohol. check sources DNA India
Manoj is a spiritual person, and he is a devotee of lord Shiva. check sources The Times of India
He has been featured on various magazine covers such as Forbes, Man’s World, and Outlook.
Manoj Bajpayee featured on the cover of Man’s World
He has also appeared in TV commercials for various brands such as Pan Vilas Pan Masala, Bail Kolhu Mustard Oil, and Mahindra Maha Bolero Pik Up.
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Yes, Manoj Bajpayee considered suicide after being rejected by the National School of Drama three times, but he eventually found his way into the institution as an acting teacher.
Yes, his surname was initially spelled as 'Bajpai' instead of 'Bajpayee' in film credits, but he later corrected it.
Yes, he rejected the offer because he didn't like the role he was offered in the film.
Yes, he is trained in Chhau, a semi-classical dance form.
Yes, he was named after Manoj Kumar but thought about changing his name to Samar before deciding against it.
