Manoj Bajpayee says a top heroine told him he’s not good looking while Yash Chopra said he won’t cast him after ‘Veer Zara’ – Times of India

Manoj Bajpayee has made a cult status for himself as an actor ever since he made his debut in 1994 with ‘Bandit Queen’. But he’s seen his own share of struggle and made it against all odds. In a recent interview, Manoj recalled a time when he was quite under confident.
Bajpayee said in an interview with Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story, that a famous actress once told him during his struggling days that he’s not good looking. However, Manoj didn’t take any offence to it because the idea was so ingrained in him. The actor was quite under-confident to be in front of the camera but on stage, it was the opposite as he felt that nobody would cast him. That was more to do with the fact that even Yash Chopra told him that he wouldn’t cast Manoj after ‘Veer Zara’ since he didn’t fit in the kind of cinema he made. The actor found Chopra’s honesty and frankness quite adorable and he preferred that over dishonesty.

That’s perhaps why, Manoj was taken a back when Shyam Benegal cast him in ‘Zubeidaa’. The actor didn’t think he fit the bill of a prince. Good looks are always defined by the way heroes look in our cinema and that’s where Manoj is thankful to Benegal for casting him in ‘Zubeidaa’ alongside Karisma Kapoor. While the actor faced several experiences that made him under-confident, it’s not the case anymore because of the journey he’s had today, eventually!
The actor was last seen in ‘Gulmohar’ and fans are eagerly waiting for the third installment of his web-series ‘Family Man’ now.