Inside 'Bhaiyya Ji': Manoj Bajpayee talks character depth, revenge themes
What's the story
Acclaimed Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee is set to take on a new role as an action hero in the forthcoming film Bhaiyya Ji. The plot of the movie centers around Bajpayee's character seeking vengeance for injustices inflicted upon his family. Inspired by real-life events, the actor revealed in a recent interview that he stumbled upon the story in a newspaper years ago, and it has "stayed" with him ever since.
Character motivation
Bajpayee's fascination with the psychology of revenge, its origins
Speaking with Variety, Bajpayee expressed his interest in exploring the mindset of revenge, its origins, and its psychological implications. "I wanted to do an independent film and really explore this mindset of revenge, where it comes from, really analyze it, and find the psychology of revenge in the human mind, that fascinated me." This fascination led him to discuss his idea with director Apoorv Singh Karki during the shooting of their courtroom drama Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (2023).
Film concept
How director Singh Karki 'jumped up' captivated by Bajpayee's concept
Singh Karki was captivated by Bajpayee's concept. Bajpayee revealed, "I just wanted [Singh Karki's] opinion on it. But this guy jumped up and said, 'I'm a big fan of mass entertainers, and it has been my dream to make a South Indian-style mass entertainer.'" While Bajpayee was concerned about Hindi-language commercial films often being set in urban locations and lacking cultural roots, Singh Karki assured him that their film would be different and the characters would be grounded in society.
Role challenge
Bajpayee's transition from drama to action
Despite initial apprehensions due to his age and lack of martial arts experience, Bajpayee was persuaded by Singh Karki's vision. The actor, recognized for his award-winning performances in films like Bhonsle and Aligarh, as well as the popular Amazon Prime Video series The Family Man, faced a different set of challenges in Bhaiyya Ji. "I realized that it's better not to go internal with this one. Because if you internalize, you may ruin the whole purpose of entertainment," he said.
Release details
This 'Kohrra' actor plays the antagonist
Assisting Bajpayee as the antagonist is veteran actor Suvinder Vicky, renowned for his recent role in the hit Netflix series Kohrra. Bajpayee mentioned that it merely took them three shooting days to capture the essence of the genre. Penned by Singh Karki and Deepak Kingrani, the film is presented under the banners of Bhanushali Studios Limited, SSO Productions, and Aurega Studios. Bhaiyya Ji is slated for a theatrical release on May 24.