Anurag Kashyap and Manoj Bajpayee: A Tale of Friendship and Film

MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 10 (PTI) — Anurag Kashyap, celebrated for his two-part epic "Gangs of Wasseypur," was once collaborating on a film with actor Manoj Bajpayee. However, the project had to be abandoned due to unforeseen challenges. Bajpayee, who enjoys a friendship with Kashyap that began with their first hit, "Satya" in 1998, disclosed this in an interview.

Their collaboration on the Ramgopal Varma-directed "Satya," penned by Kashyap, catapulted Bajpayee to stardom as the iconic Bhiku Mhatre. Despite working on subsequent films like "Kaun" and "Shool," misunderstandings kept the duo apart professionally for several years. It was only much later that they reunited to work on "Gangs of Wasseypur" (2012).

"There were significant misunderstandings between us that only got resolved when we decided to work on ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’. The hiatus was not only a loss for us but also for our audiences, because together we could have created much more magic. We understood each other. We complemented each other perfectly, as ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ proved," Bajpayee told PTI.

Despite the passage of thirteen years since "Wasseypur," the duo has not collaborated again. "We were seriously discussing a new film. However, Anurag, being the unpredictable soul that he is, realized he couldn't do justice to the script at that moment, so we paused the plan," the actor revealed.

While Bajpayee remains hopeful about Kashyap eventually reviving the project, he stated he won't be actively pursuing its progress. "Let's wait and see; one morning he might just wake up with the script ready. I never pressure him, as he's someone uneasy with any sort of compulsion, be it emotional, physical, or financial," Bajpayee added. Interestingly, Kashyap has taken on the role of a presenter for Bajpayee's latest project, "Jugnuma," directed by Raam Reddy.

"He watched the film at the New York Film Festival and was utterly impressed. He decided to support it and associated his name with it. He even got several celebrated filmmakers from South India like Vetri Maaran, Nag Ashwin, and Lijo Jose Pellissery to see the film and endorse it. This speaks volumes about 'Jugnuma's' beauty and its magical narrative," Bajpayee shared.

Bajpayee credited Kashyap for mentoring numerous independent films by leveraging his influence. "He's courageous. Though he experiences dark phases, that's just who he is. I believe he can't create without a touch of chaos. To me, his chaos signals he's on the brink of creating something extraordinary," Bajpayee noted when discussing Kashyap's personality.

In reference to something he might dislike about Kashyap, Bajpayee mentioned: "There are minor things that don't sit well with me, like his untidiness. He likes his place in disarray and resists anyone trying to set it right. I'm someone who thrives on organization, so stepping into his scattered space is unsettling," he remarked.

Set to release in theaters this Friday, "Jugnuma," also titled "The Fable" in English, will once again showcase the collaboration of acclaimed talents.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)