Manoj Bajpayee recounted an early career encounter with Amitabh Bachchan at a ‘Satya’ screening, admitting he hid in a toilet out of sheer awe. Abhishek Bachchan’s compliment led to a surreal meeting with the megastar. Bajpayee, humbled by Bachchan’s immense presence, later collaborated with him on several films, marking a significant journey from nervous admiration to professional partnership. Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who is basking in the success of ‘The Family Man 2’, recently revisited a memorable and slightly embarrassing moment from the early phase of his career, recalling his first close encounter with Amitabh Bachchan. The actor shared that the incident occurred during a screening of Ram Gopal Varma’s 1998 cult classic ‘Satya’, where both Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan were present.
When Manoj Bajpayee hid in a toilet
Overwhelmed by the sudden proximity to the legendary actor, Manoj admitted he instinctively tried to avoid the moment altogether. “I was thrown into that situation where I did not want to face Mr Bachchan. I went and hid myself in a toilet, and Abhishek saw me going there,” he recalled, describing how starstruck he truly was to Galatta Plus, .
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When praise turned into a freeze-frame moment
According to Manoj, things only became more surreal when he stepped out. Abhishek Bachchan complimented him on his performance in ‘Satya’, and soon after, Amitabh Bachchan himself joined them. “I saw this tall guy coming and standing right in front of me. For me, everything froze at that moment,” Manoj said, capturing the impact of that unexpected meeting.
On Amitabh Bachchan’s unmatched aura
Reflecting on the experience years later, Manoj spoke about the towering presence Amitabh Bachchan holds in Indian cinema. “I do not think my performances can do that to anyone. Mr Bachchan has been a personality that… I do not think anybody has seen that stature ever,” he admitted, acknowledging the megastar’s singular influence.
From awe to collaboration
Interestingly, Manoj Bajpayee later went on to work alongside Amitabh Bachchan in films such as ‘Aks’ (2001), ‘Aarakshan’ (2011) and ‘Satyagraha’ (2012). What began as a moment of nervous admiration eventually evolved into professional collaboration, underscoring Manoj’s remarkable journey in Hindi cinema.