Manoj Bajpayee has completely transformed himself into professor Ramchandra Siras of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for Hansal Mehta’s film ‘Aligarh’. The actor has very passionately portrayed the role in this Eros Entertainment produced flick. “This film is about a professor who is in love with history, Lata Mangeshkar songs, poetry, literature and teaching. But the city video-graphed him, insulted and humiliated him. He was a pure soul, innocent man, filled with love,” says Manoj.
The actor applauds his director for having taken up a subject as controversial as homosexuality in public life. Manoj says, “Hansal Mehta took a brave step of making a film about a professor whose sexual orientation was completely different from us. A sexual orientation that is termed illegal and criminal in our country. Here is a director who has put himself on the line to talk about something that is completely forbidden in our society.” The film will explore two different aspects of the professor Siras’ life, firstly the circumstances that he lived in and secondly a backstory about his childhood and his family disowning him.
Manoj Bajpayee is apparently always faced with questions about playing ‘homosexual character’. He clarifies, “There is nothing called as homosexual character. Homosexuality doesn’t make or break a character, it is just a sexual orientation.” The actor further adds his preparations for playing the controversial professor, “I believe that when you are approaching a role, you have to see it through your own personality. I try to understand characters through myself. I created an atmosphere of reading Marathi poetry and novels, trying to understand Marathi. And in a few days the character started welcoming me.” Manoj Bajpayee took 20-25 days to prepare for his role which he terms was a “very difficult one”.
‘Aligarh’ is not an out-an-out Bollywood masala film having big celebs, rather this cinema preaches a very important subject. Manoj Bajpayee wants everyone to watch the film, “We urge you to go to the theatre and watch such films otherwise they will not be made. It is a very serious story, a serious film but made with lots of passion and conviction from the team. We make films we believe in, films that should survive in this country and films which create debate apart from giving a great story.”
Despite such an impactful subject and hard-hitting story, Manoj Bajpayee has no yearnings for awards. “You can never have expectations and work in a film. After working for so many years in this industry I have realised that after a film releases, indulge yourself in some other work. Going for any awards is foolishness because they have their own parameters, jury and strategy. So there is no need to get into that. Getting appreciation from the people and earning respect for the film is more important for me,” concludes the actor. ‘Aligarh’ also stars Rajkummar Rao in a vital role. The film is all set to release on February 26.
