Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Governor, graced the ABP Network India@2047 Conclave at Taj Palace, New Delhi. During the session titled Tales Untold: Playing Real Heroes, Bajpayee spoke about his approach to choosing scripts, preparing for Governor, and how OTT platforms helped introduce his work to a younger audience.
‘Family Man Became Runaway Success’
Reflecting on the success of The Family Man, Bajpayee said the show’s popularity grew even further during the COVID-19 lockdown, when audiences increasingly turned to streaming platforms for entertainment.
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“When I did the first season of Family Man, it was a runaway success. At the time, COVID wasn’t there. But when lockdown happened, people only had one option to keep themselves entertained, and that was OTT. People watched the first season and around the same time, the second season premiered. Because of that, today’s generation saw my old work because I had mostly done independent projects. People saw me a lot on OTT.”
The actor added that the OTT boom significantly expanded viewing choices for audiences and opened new opportunities for actors.
“OTT gave too many choices to people. It is not for community viewing,” he said, adding that he received several offers from streaming platforms during that period.
‘People Are Turning Back To Theatres’
Bajpayee also said he considers himself fortunate to have benefited from the OTT revolution while staying true to his creative instincts.
“I never found a commercial element in it. I always focused on the story and character. At the time, I think that was right for the OTT. Now there’s a fatigue in OTT, and people are again turning to theatres.”
The actor believes audiences are gradually rediscovering the theatrical experience and revealed that most of his future projects are expected to release in cinemas. According to him, that transition begins with Governor.
ABP Network India@2047 Conclave
The ABP Network India@2047 Conclave is being held in New Delhi under the theme Building Bharat@2047. The event has brought together policymakers, filmmakers, economists, industry leaders, technologists, and cultural figures to discuss India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by the centenary of Independence.