Manoj VajpayeeIts career has never followed a safe path. Long before becoming one of the most acclaimed performers in Indian cinema, the actor was making tough choices that could have easily derailed a less determined artiste. After the success of Satya, Manoj was flooded with offers, but most of them wanted him to repeat the dark, villainous role that had brought him acclaim. He refused to box, even when saying no meant losing big money.Manoj revisited that phase of his career and spoke of choosing films for their stories rather than their pay cheques. He also recalled the experience of working with this legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra in Veer-Zara and revealed that the filmmaker paid her the same amount she would normally get for a lead role, even though her appearance in the film was brief.During the conversation, Manoj Vajpayee said that the years after the truth were not as easy as they appeared from the outside. While the film established him as a powerful actor, it also came with the risk of being typecast.The actor said Satya wanted him to play a villain or similar gray character after he was offered many films. The actor, however, was clear that he did not want to repeat himself. At the same time, the films that really interest him don’t always bring big paychecks.Despite the financial challenges, Manoj said he never regretted these decisions. For him, his instinct to wait for good stories and meaningful characters eventually helped him build the career he has today.During this discussion, Dr Shekhar SumanOn its talk show Shekhar Tonite, when asked more about ‘Veer Zaara’ and asked Manoj if he ever regretted doing a cameo in the film? Manoj immediately denied it and recalled how Yash Chopra had personally called him for the role.Manoj said, “Yash ji called me, and he asked, ‘Shu film mein cameo hai tu kreega kya? Pinjar vakanti hue mujhe laga ki yeh roll tu hi kar payega (I have a cameo role in my film. Will you do it? After watching Pinjar, I felt that you are the only one who can pull off this role’). Believe me, I didn’t even want to hear the script from him because I wanted to direct him. I said, Yash ji, tell me when to come. Tell me the story and the character in one line, I’ll come prepared. butt Aditya Chopra The whole scene told me.”For Manoj, the decision was not about screen time. It was directed by Yash Chopra, one of the most famous filmmakers of Hindi cinema. The actor said he didn’t even feel the need to listen to the entire script before agreeing, as the opportunity itself was important to him.Manoj also remembers making a light-hearted request to Yash Chopra after hearing the narration. He told the filmmaker that the next time he thinks of her, he should give her a bigger role.Manoj shared, “I said yesh ji agli bar when yaad rakhiega to bada roll dijiyega. To unhone saf saf bola, ‘bete mein tere jaisi actor ke liye kahan film banta hoon or jo roll honge o tu kreega na to yeh wala think, next time the Yash wala’ me, please give me a bigger role.” He very bluntly replied, ‘Son, I don’t really make movies for actors like you. And even if there are roles in my film for you, you probably won’t do them. So do it right and do it well).’Manoj said that he appreciated Yash Chopra’s honesty as the filmmaker did not make any false promises to him. Instead, he was upfront about the kind of film he made and the roles that may or may not come Manoj’s way. The actor also revealed that he initially told Yash Chopra that he would not charge any fee for Veer-Zara. But the filmmaker insisted on paying him.Manoj said, “I liked that he never paid me anything. I told him I won’t take any remuneration, but he said I will pay you, and Yash Chopra sent me the amount I would have taken to play the lead role in the film.”The anecdote impressed Shekhar Suman and gave a glimpse of the mutual respect between Manoj and Yash Chopra. Although Manoj’s role in Veer-Zara was not a full-fledged lead, it remains memorable and adds emotional weight to the film’s narrative.
