Manoj Bajpayee addresses comparisons, opens up about Shah Rukh Khan's National Award win, calls it ‘loser conversation’

In a candid interview, Manoj Bajpayee opened up on losing the National Award to Shah Rukh Khan amid the ongoing debate of his win for Atlee's 'Jawan.' While Shah Rukh Khan's win triggered a widespread jubilation among his fans, showering him with praise on social media, some critics opined that the award should have gone to Manoj Bajpayee, for his intense and impactful role in ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ as more deserving of the honour.

Manoj Bajpayee on comparisons and past achievements



Now, Manoj Bajpayee addressed the comparisons with Shah Rukh and his National Award win by telling India Today that it is a useless conversation because it is gone. He mentioned that ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ is a very special film in his filmography, as was ‘Joram’, and that they will be on top of his filmography. However, he said he does not discuss these matters because it is a very loser conversation, and since it is in the past, it should be left alone.

National Awards losing relevance, says Manoj

Speaking to India Today, Manoj Bajpayee, a former National Award winner, talked about how National Awards are losing their relevance and increasingly favoring commercial cinema. He said it’s not just about national awards but about all the awards that were once revered. He believes the organizations should seriously reconsider how they operate. He emphasized that his own respect is something he carefully maintains by choosing films responsibly and being accountable to the actor he is. However, he feels that each organization needs to reflect on itself, and if anyone is losing respect, they should think about it.
Bajpayee shared, “It is useless conversation because it is gone. When it comes to 'Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai,' yes, it is a very special film in my filmography and so was Joram. They are going to be on top of my filmography. But I don’t discuss these things because it is a very loser conversation. It is in the past and it should be left alone.”

Manoj Bajpayee expresses scepticism about award shows

The 'Family Man' actor expressed his scepticism about the concept of award shows with the wide range of films and performances across different genres and languages. He said, “I think for me, the idea of an award show is wrong.” He further shared that he attends these events out of respect for the organizers but does not put much weight on winning. According to him, “It is just a piece of decoration in your house. Everyday you are not going to stand in front of it and say ‘wow, I got this’.”

Award backgrounds of Shah Rukh Khan and Manoj Bajpayee

Shah Rukh Khan has clinched a National Award for the first time in his career. Meanwhile, Manoj Bajpayee has received this prestigious recognition multiple times, namely, first for his debut in ‘Satya’, then for ‘Pinjar’ in 2003, and again for ‘Aligarh’ in 2016.


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