EXCLUSIVE: Manoj Bajpayee Admits ‘Film Festival’ Tag Affects Projects’ Upon Mass Release; States, “I Have Suffered, I’m A Victim”

Manoj Bajpayee has been a part of Festival Films such as The Fable, Bhonsle, and Gali Guleiyan. The Fable ahead of is worldwide theatricial release has been renamed as Jugnumaa- the Fable, and he actor sat to promote the film. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble, Manoj Bajpayee admitted he has been a victim of being boxed as Festival Films actor, and how it impacted. He also revealed the industry’s insecurities. Scroll down to read more and watch the full interview.

Manoj Bajpayee On Doing Festival Films

When asked if films suffer after being tagged as Festival Films and if they receive less appreciation from the audience, Manoj Bajpayee responded, “I have suffered it. I’m a victim. I’m a victim, a victim of this. And my films were victims of this kind of notion, which has been going on about the different kinds of films. Not mainstream, not commercial. I have come to one conclusion; that they fear these films. They fear these films because these films are celebrated by a certain crowd. And people who appreciate these kinds of films are the people who are powerful, whether with their pen or with their—like the people like you, when they say nice things about it, or they celebrate and appreciate the performers or the directors.”

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Continuing, he said, “Somewhere I feel that they fear it, or they don’t like that. They only want to think that their films are the only films which should be considered films. This is all a kind of indulgent exercise? I say no. If independent films—in earlier days it used to be called art films if independent films don’t happen, the growth of cinema or evolution of cinema will never happen. We will not get the kind of solid works we have had through those independents. So, the evolution of cinema will only happen if these films keep flourishing.”

Manoj Bajpayee On Festival Films

The Veer Zaara actor said, “These films are not asking for your validation. They are offering you great stuff. They are giving you a great, I would say, they are giving you a great experience. They are making you feel proud as an Indian. You feel proud that these are the kind of films which are getting made. They can actually compete with the best in the world, and they do. It’s just that we refuse to recognise it as an industry because it gives us insecurity. This film’s success, these films and these filmmakers are not saying it. They think that if they are being celebrated, that means it is pointing a finger at them, that you are lesser than these guys? No. All I’m saying is, there can be a very healthy coexistence.”

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Concluding, he said, “Then the industry, the system, everything is responsible for it. Then the distributors want their own films to be there all the time in all the shows because they want to mint money. They want money. It’s up to the exhibitors to give some space for these films too. They are not from Mauritius or Sri Lanka; they are from India. And they have worked very hard. But I don’t think they will give—unless there is an intervention of the state or the government.”

Manoj Bajpayee will be next seen in Jugnuma, releasing on 12th September. It was screened at MAMI last year.

Watch The Full Interview

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Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Manoj Bajpayee Compares His Stardom To Salman, Shah Rukh And Aamir Khan; States, “They Don’t Know What It’s To Be Without Fans…”