the brilliant Manoj Bajpayee talks about Neeraj Pandey’s Special Chabbis in this special interview.
Manoj, Special Chabbis hold a very special place in your career?
There is a very interesting story behind Special Chabbis and my association with Neeraj Pandey. I watched his film A Wednesday. During those times, I was not getting the kind of work I was looking for. I was mostly calling directors, showing interest in working with them, or asking for good work from them. Some of those directors who were really coming up, one of them was Neeraj Pandey, and I was quite mesmerized in the manner Wednesday was written and, performed and crafted.
So you approached Neeraj?
I called him up, and I said, you know, what a great film you made, and please think of me in a role if you’re writing something new because I’m looking for good work. It was very gracious of him. He said that he’s a fan of me and a fan of my work, mainly Shool, and we spoke about it. And after that, you know, he just sent me a script, you know, in a couple of months. I was completely blown by the script which was given to me to read, and the role was something I just jumped up when I heard he wanted to cast me in that role. It was a very tricky role.
That’s how Special Chabbis happened?
Yes, I didn’t want to play CBI officer Wasim Khan as too much of a smiling guy. I wanted to make him a no-nonsense person who doesn’t know how to smile and is very sharp at the same time. But there was another side to his character where he is a conservative guy when it comes to his family and his wife. But he’s a doting father, also. And he is somebody who is very strict, not only with his colleagues. But within his office, and also with his own self, he is somebody who really admires anyone who is much more smarter and much more quick-thinker than him.
This was a hard act to pull off?
Most of the time, I tried to make him a straight-faced, intense, no-nonsense guy. But I had to get all of those nuances. So it was a very interesting and exciting time when I was shooting for the film. I feel that Neeraj Pandey, with Wednesday and especially Special Chabbis, really registered himself as one of the most versatile writers and directors of our country.
Neeraj and you are just waiting to partner again?
Every second film or series that he does, I make sure that I watch it and I get back to him. He made another fantastic film with me, Aiyyari, a film that I will always be very, very proud of. So, our collaboration now is not just an actor and director. First of all, it started with that admiration for each other. And then it became more of a friendship where we could talk to each other about anything on this earth. And for hours, we just talk some sense and some real nonsense. We enjoy each other’s company.
