Manoj Bajpayee

Manoj Bajpayee, born on April 23, 1969, in a small village in Bihar, is a distinguished Indian actor known for his remarkable contributions to Hindi cinema. From a young age, he harbored dreams of becoming an actor, which led him to relocate to Delhi at seventeen. Despite facing rejection from the National School of Drama on four occasions, he persevered, engaging in theatre while pursuing his college education.

His cinematic journey began with minor roles in the films Drohkaal and Bandit Queen, both released in 1994. However, it was his portrayal of a gangster in Ram Gopal Varma's acclaimed crime drama Satya in 1998 that marked his breakthrough. This performance earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor, establishing him as a formidable talent in the industry.

Following his success, Bajpayee starred in notable films such as Kaun? and Shool, the latter of which garnered him a second Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor. His career saw a resurgence with the Special Jury National Award for his role in Pinjar in 2003, although he faced a period of less prominent roles thereafter. His career took a significant turn with the political thriller Raajneeti in 2010, leading to widespread acclaim for his lead role in Gangs of Wasseypur in 2012.

In subsequent years, Bajpayee continued to impress audiences with his versatility, portraying a Naxalite in Chakravyuh and a CBI officer in Special 26. His performance as Professor Ramchandra Siras in the biographical drama Aligarh in 2016 earned him his third Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor, along with the Best Actor Award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. More recently, he has captivated viewers in the thriller series The Family Man, for which he received the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actor.