Manoj Bajpayee, Karishma Tanna: How the perseverance of these late bloomers finally paid off – #BigStory | Hindi Movie News – Times of India

The former consists of some very prolific artistes who are today known for their craft and are churning out one title after another.
Be it Manoj Bajpayee who captured the OTT scene with Raj and DK’s series The Family Man or Karishma Tanna today, who after years of working in films and television series, is finally getting her due recognition with Hansal Mehta’s crime drama series Scoop. Manoj’s association with filmmakers like Raj and DK, Hansal Mehta and others has made him a veritable star that he is today. Even Saif Ali Khan who debuted in 2003, tasted success after years. His OTT stint with Sacred Games and Tandav gave him a new boost. As he himself said in an interview, “I think I’m a late bloomer in some ways. My acting is getting better and better today. And I think acting is something that grows with time, something as an understanding and maturity.”
The perseverance of stars like Sanjai Mishra, Gajraj Rao, Neena Gupta, Kumud Mishra, Vijay Raaz, Pankaj Tripathi, Jaideep Ahlawat, filmmakers like Hansal Mehta, Pradeep Sarkar finally paid off and the stories of these late bloomers is nothing short of inspiring. In today’s #BigStory, we delve into the stories of such artistes, how difficult it is for them to wait for the right opportunity, to find their own voice in the creative space, their internal battles and much more. Read on.
The ups and downs
For those working in the film industry, fate changes every Friday at the box office. And over the years, we have seen the biggest of stars from Amitabh Bachchan to Aamir Khan go through a low phase and then bounce back. Salman Khan had a string of flops, before he bounced back with Wanted. Shah Rukh Khan had a string of flops, then he bounced back with Pathaan.
“When you see Manoj Bajpayee giving a sterling performance in Bandaa, or Karishma Tanna giving a fantastic performance in Scoop, you realise that it’s a matter of one series, one film or one chance,” notes trade analyst Taran Adarsh. “Look at Adah Sharma who did The Kerala Story and she’s there! I think it’s just a question of the right project that comes by. If you have the right project, nothing can stop you.”
Abhishek Banerjee started his showbiz career in 2006 with Rang De Basanti, but it is only his recent works that are getting him unprecedented attention, his Hathoda Tyagi act in Pataal Lok being the most acclaimed. He says an artist has to find a way to stand out. “When we, as artists, come to this industry, we also have a vision, a voice, which we probably want to use in our art form. But the industry is tied in a system where there is a specific kind of work, specific kinds of films are made. That’s also loved by the audiences. So now you have to find your way to stand out also, and also to be loved by the audience. I think that is the most difficult journey for any artist – to be loved, and also to be able to voice out their visions in their respective art forms.”
Filmistaan actor Sharib Hashmi says the industry doesn’t revolve around your needs and what you intend to do with your career. “You have to do everything on your own,” he says. “You have to decide your plan of action. You have to convince people of your talent. And even the performer finds his or her own voice gradually with time and experience and it’s an individual and lonely process I feel.”
The narrative is not much different in case of filmmakers. Hansal Mehta took a break because he ‘was running out of ideas’. “I felt that I was a bit saturated and I was not happy. So it was a transition period in my life also. I was going to turn 40 and I felt that what am I doing? What kind of stories do I want to tell? And I did not know, I had no answer. I could not answer myself. What stories do I want to tell? What will I make? So that was the time I decided, nobody asked me to stop. I needed to stop, I needed to reflect. I needed to take time off so that I could come back with the stories I can tell. I came back with Shahid. That’s how that reflection allowed me to look at my life and find my voice.”
Having worked with Manoj Bajpayee in Aligarh, Hansal has known him for years. “He had his ups and downs which everybody has. The thing about ups and downs is you can’t keep a good man down. He’s a good person more than an actor. And he is talented. If you’re good and you believe that you’re good, one cannot keep you down for too long,” he says.
Persistence is the key
Every talent requires great persistence for a person to achieve his full potential. Same is the case with acting or filmmaking. “Getting there takes time, but you have to be resilient, persistent,” says Abhishek Banerjee. “The struggle is more internal than external. As an artist who wants to seek business or employment, insecurities will definitely dwell in when you don’t get the work you want or the choices you want to make. Now how to keep yourself on top of your mind and off overthinking and silent those thoughts and the voices, I think that is the real challenge for any artist. Because we are emotionally vulnerable. I think artists are also very highly insecure. So it’s a mental battle more than a physical one or an external one.”
Taran Adarsh cites examples of Manoj Bajpayee and Saif Ali Khan. “Manoj is very hardworking and a fantastic actor. He is sincere and a very good human being. And a good human being keeps getting chances. Even Saif was so good in Tanhaji; he is playing Ravan in Adipurush. He is playing the antagonist in a Jr NTR starrer which is a big opportunity. I feel that anything can be turned around. Back in the day, even with Omkara and Cocktail, he’d proved that he is a good actor. He’s always been very sincere and committed. I remember that he was taken out of Rahul Rawail’s film at one point of time. But as I said, with sheer hard work, you come up your way.”
Writer-director Suparn Verma agrees and quotes a line from Hansal Mehta’s film, “Waqt lagta hai par ho jata hai, as long as you are persistent and never give up on your dream. Life teaches you through your failures, not through success. We keep falling, we keep getting hurt and that’s the only way we can learn. Some people learn from it, get up, rise, and keep walking. Some people give up, change direction or never move again. So it’s different strokes from different folks, but then there are people who never ever give up. They hold on to that dream no matter what the circumstances, they dust off their bruises, bandage it, get up, keep walking despite the harsh words spoken, despite the treatment that is meted out when you are not successful. Because when you are successful every door in the world opens to you. When you are not, getting even an answer to a message is tough.”
Hansal Mehta never stopped working in all these years. “It is important to keep working and not get bogged down,” he says. “30 years ago, I made the show Khana Khazana, they rejected my choice of anchor for the show. They did not want Sanjeev Kapoor. But ultimately, he went on to become a big name. So, I learned my lessons that if you do something that you believe in, one day you will see it succeed. I have learned to believe, to have faith. More than patience, it is faith in myself, faith in the fact that I will never stop trying.”
Waiting for the right opportunity
Among the many challenges artistes face to make a career in the film industry, the one that can be most daunting is waiting for the right opportunity. It’s not a cakewalk, says Abhishek. “Waiting for the right opportunity can be difficult, as it’s not an easy field. There are a lot of sacrifices which artistes have to make to reach where they are. It’s a long battle and it can be tiring, it can be punishing, but then that’s what I think most of the artists choose. Sometimes I feel that they want to learn through their own life.”
“Yes, there will be sacrifices along the way,” agrees Suparn. “You have to give up things, you have to give up stuff that you like and love because nothing comes easy. Your personal time will be devoted to what you want to do. And that is just the nature of the beast. Nothing is easy and it’s not easy for anybody.”
Sharib believes for a newcomer, getting an opportunity itself is a big thing. “I don’t think we think of whether it’s right or wrong, we just dive into it blindfolded and just follow our instincts. Sometimes it is a rewarding experience, sometimes it’s not. But for a newcomer any kind of opportunity is right at that given point of time.”
Late bloomers like Irrfan Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi have invested their lives initially in trying to learn the skills of acting, notes filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia. “They have worked intensively for 4-5 years. Those days are gone. When they came into the industry, in the late 80s or early 90s, the scenario in the industry was very different from what it is now. Commercial cinema was at its peak. And for these actors to get work in cinema and films was difficult. Even the junior artists were the same in all the films, forget character actors and actors.”
Directors like Tigmanshu, Vishal Bhardwaj, Shoojit Sircar, Anurag Kashyap, Imtiaz Ali among others slowly brought about a change in cinema after the year 2000. “Vishal made Maqbool, I made Haasil, Anurag Kashyap, Imtiaz Ali made different films. We came with different stories and then these actors could be accommodated in those stories. Actors don’t make films, it is the directors who make films and actors come later. So that change was because of directors like us, I feel very proud of it,” beams Tigmanshu.
Karishma Tanna finally landed a role in Scoop that explored her acting talent. Hansal Mehta recalls she had messaged him after Scam 1992 and expressed a desire to work. “I just replied for sure and left it there,” he tells ETimes. “The choice for Scoop was instinct. I felt she was perfect for the part. There was something about her character and the character of Jagruti overlapped. You know there is a hunger and she is a capable actor. She wants you to know that she can act and she has been in the industry for 18-19 years and people have never seen her as an actor. I am glad that could be a catalyst and people are seeing her and appreciating her so much. She is so happy that she gifted me an espresso machine!”
The OTT revolution
The rise of OTT streaming platforms propelled actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Karishma Tanna and many others, who dared to be ordinary in an industry that favours flamboyance. “Manoj’s portrayal in The Family Man shattered norms, celebrating authenticity and inspiring others to embrace their uniqueness. Simultaneously, the streaming revolution has opened doors for diverse storytelling and showcased the talents of overlooked individuals. It has brought newfound creativity, flexibility, and inclusivity to the entertainment industry,” notes filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.
“Hansal Mehta’s Scam 1992, Faraz, and Scoop have energised streaming platforms with their vibrancy. What sets him apart is his pure intention, fueling creativity, fostering connection, and infusing his films with clarity and meaning. This potent force elevates their impact, further amplified by the OTT platform,” he adds.
The inner battle
Artistes who have consistently worked hard in the industry could be rightly called the survivors of the film industry. “It’s difficult to stay positive, because after a lot of difficulties and probably rejections and probably not getting the work of your choice, any actor can have a bitterness towards others that they are not accepting. And not accepting for an actor or any artist is the biggest problem in an artist’s mind,” says Abhishek.
“If you are an artist, there are going to be people who are always ready to criticise you. To take that criticism and keep moving forward, to learn from your critics, to have that humility to always learn even if you are successful. I think this is a very difficult task and very few people can balance it. And I think that balance is what makes their career so long,” he adds.
Sharib thinks the waiting game is both internal and external. “Internal is because you have to prepare yourself mentally that it will take time. Have confidence in yourself. Patience and perseverance are very important in this field. External is the pressure you have to deal with your family and friends. And the financial crunch that you go through. You try to manage the finances as smartly as you can and save.”
Abhishek thinks superstars have a harder time because they have to maintain that level for so many years, even decades. “I have recently worked with Bachchan sir and there are so many adjectives added to him – angry young man, the Shahenshah of Bollywood. But honestly, I saw a labour actor. Like a calm, hardworking actor. And for me that was the most inspiring thing. Beyond the stardom, I think that when he is on set, he is a professional, disciplined actor. That made me think, and realise that it’s not really about the stardom. It’s about the work and the dedication and how you are doing it. I think that’s what any newcomer needs to learn and understand,” he shares.
They say it’s never too late for anything, and Sharib believes he himself is a big example of this idiom. “Normally people start in their early 20s and when they are single. But I started at the age of 33. So the road ahead was very difficult for me as I was not alone in the struggle. I was married and had a kid. Struggling with a family was indeed very difficult. But my patience and perseverance and confidence in my craft eventually paid off,” he signs off.