Manoj Bajpayee reveals Yash Chopra paid him lead actor’s fee for cameo in Veer-Zaara
Manoj Bajpayee remembered that after watching Pinjar, Yash Chopra had asked him to do a cameo in Veer-Zaara. He revealed that the late filmmaker had paid him the same fees that he charged for a lead role in a film.
Actor Manoj Bajpayee has revealed that late filmmaker Yash Chopra paid him “equivalent to the fees he charged as a lead actor” for a small role. Veer Zaara. After that talking about the career choices made by him TruthThe actor shared that he turned down many lucrative offers because many of the roles were villainous and he did not want to be typecast. He highlighted that the films he was really interested in often came with modest pay cheques, but he never regretted those decisions.
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During an appearance on actor-turned-host Shekhar Suman’s talk show Shekhar ToniteBajpayee also recalled his experience of working with filmmaker Yash Chopra Veer Zaara. He admitted that Chopra paid him the same amount as he would have charged for a lead role, even though his role in the film was a small one.
Bajpayee said that he will wait for films with good stories and does not regret doing cameos Veer Zaara. Recalling how he got the role, the actor said, “Yash ji called me and he asked, ‘Will you do a cameo in my film? Looking at the cage, I felt that only you can do this role. (There is a cameo role in my film. Will you do it? After watching Pinjar I felt that you are the only one who can play this role).’ Believe me, I didn’t even want to hear the script from him because I wanted to be directed by him. I said- Yash ji, please tell me when I have to come. Just tell me the story and the characters in one line, and I’ll come prepared. But Aditya Chopra narrated the entire scene to me.”
He also recalled that after hearing the script, he had asked Yash Chopra for a bigger role in the future. “I said Yash ji, next time you remember, give me a bigger role. So he clearly told him, ‘Son, I don’t make films for actors like you and you will do whatever role is available, otherwise do this one well.’(I told Yash ji, ‘Next time you think of me, please give me a bigger role.’ He replied very clearly, ‘Son, I don’t really make films for actors like you. And even if there are roles for you in my films, you probably won’t do them. So just do it right and do it well)’. I liked that he never made any promises to me. I told him I wouldn’t take any fee, but he said I’ll give it to you, and Yash Chopra sent me the same amount that I used to charge for playing the lead role in a film,” Bajpayee said.
Veer Zaara It was directed by Yash Chopra and starred Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji in the lead roles. The film also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Divya Dutta, Manoj Bajpayee, Boman Irani, Anupam Kher and Kirron Kher in supporting roles.
Bajpayee’s comments made him revisit both the career decisions taken Truth and their brief but memorable experience Veer ZaaraWhich includes his conversation with Yash Chopra and the fees he received for the cameo.
Bajpayee was recently seen in director Chinmay Mandlekar’s financial drama. Governor: Silent SaviorBased on the balance of payments crisis of 1991.
India Today, in its review of the film, wrote, “Governor: Silent Savior May not be revolutionary, but its emotional honesty, superb central performance and respect for the unsung duty make it a mature, worthwhile watch.