Manoj Bajpayee On Respecting Shah Rukh Khan: 'Saw Him Lose Entire Family At Young Age, Then Create His Own Space'

Manoj Bajpayee is now preparing for the release of 'Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai', his upcoming courtroom drama. The film will release on the ott platform ZEE5 on May 26.

New Delhi: Manoj Bajpayee has expressed his admiration for Shah Rukh Khan, especially after witnessing the Bollywood star lose "his entire family and everything" before carving out a niche for himself in the industry.

Manoj is now preparing for the release of 'Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai', his upcoming courtroom drama. The film will release on the ott platform ZEE5 on May 23. The movie, which is directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, tells the tale of a lawyer who is up against a powerful system.

Recalling his friend from their early days in the profession, Manoj told The Lallantop, “Mujhe bahut khushi hoti hain usko uss mukaam pe dekh ke, jiss tarah ke duniya usne khadi ki apne liye. Ek vyakti jiska pura duniya ujadh chuka that. 26 saal ke umar mein aur uska pura parivaar ja chuka tha, phir usne apni duniya khadi . Parivaar apna create kiya, apne liye itna bada naam, izaat banaya (I feel very happy to see Shah Rukh Khan at the height that he is now. The way he has created his own world, after losing his entire family at the young age of 26 is commendable. He created his own space, his own family. He worked hard to achieve all the fame and name that he now has).”

Manoj added, “Main isliye respect karta hoon kyunki main unke aas paas saare doston mein tha, jisne dekha tha uske saath yeh sab hote hue. Mere liye kabhi Shah Rukh ke liye koi kadvahat nahi ho sakti (I respect him because I was one of his friends who had seen him at his worst. I can never be bitter about Shah Rukh’s success).”

Manoj mentioned in the interview that he and Shah Rukh Khan used to meet frequently and collaborate for a while back when they were just getting started. However, since both Manoj and Shah Rukh have established "different worlds" for themselves, they are no longer able to get together as frequently. But Manoj went on to say that they do respect one another.

Manoj Bajpayee was last seen in the family drama 'Gulmohar' that marked veteran actor Sharmila Tagore's ott debut. The film is streaming on Disney+Hotstar.