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Legendary director and screenwriter Shyam Benegal died at 90 on Monday (December 23). The pioneer behind movies acclaimed movies like Manthan, Ankur, Mandi, Mujib, and other notable works, his death has marked a significant loss for Indian cinema. Those who had associated with Benegal spoke highly of his unique vision. One of them was actor Manoj Bajpayee, who worked with the director in the 2001 film Zubeidaa. In a throwback interaction, Bajpayee revealed how the filmmaker had convinced him to play a royal prince in the movie even though he was skeptical before taking the role.
What Did Manoj Bajpayee Reveal About Shyam Benegal?
Manoj Bajpayee revealed to PTI that he met Shyam Benegal a few years after the success of his film Satya wherein he had played the iconic role of gangster Bhiku Mhatre. The director of Satya, Ram Gopal Verma, had sent a message to Manoj through the late director. The Family Man actor recalled the same and said, “He sent me a message through Ram Gopal Varma. And Varma told me only one thing, ‘Shyam Benegal wants to work with you. He wants to cast you in some role. I don’t know what the film is all about, but you are not going to say no to anything that he offers. That should be our regard and respect for that filmmaker, so you are going to say yes. You are not going to say no.”
An ecstatic Manoj Bajpayee then added, “And I was so grateful to Ram Gopal Varma that I decided that I will do whatever he gives me.” However, Bajpayee soon found out that Shyam Benegal wanted to cast him as a prince for Zubeidaa opposite Karisma Kapoor. But the actor recalled how the director had immense faith in him even when he thought that he did not look like a prince.
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