A modern-day folklore shot in Uttar Pradesh, ‘Lanka’ talks about love, loyalty, betrayal and justice. Set to release on December 9, it was earlier titled ‘Vibhishan’ because it also talks about Manoj Bajpai’s relationship with his brother, who is one of the reasons behind his downfall.
My character in the film is derived from Ravan, and is socially and politically very powerful. He is wise and loves his city. When he becomes obsessed with a girl, his downfall begins. The only mistake he makes is one-sided love without her consent,” says Manoj.
Known for his power-packed performances in movies like ‘Satya’, ‘Zubeidaa’, ‘Kaun’ and ‘Pinjar’, Manoj says, “As an actor, it is important that I approach each role differently and with focus. I always make sure that I understand the character properly and try to execute it in the best possible way. In ‘Lanka’ also, I have tried to portray my character in the best possible way.”
In his decade-long career, Manoj has acted in several films and has gained much critical acclaim, especially for his portrayal of sensitive issues. But he was still found struggling while shooting for ‘Lanka’.
Manoj, apparently, was supposed to physically exploit a female character in the film, played by Pia Bajpai. But despite many retakes, he kept fumbling with his lines.
The actor is known for choosing his character names in a few of his films. So, did he choose his character in ‘Lanka’ too?
“When Maqbool (the film’s director), who also happens to be my old friend, narrated the script to me, I just loved it. So much so that I told him that only I will do this role. This is the kind of role which required an actor, not a hero. And I am an actor,” says the two-time National award winner.
Manoj says audiences will be able to relate to various incidents in the movie. “There is a lot of hard work that goes behind the making a good film. I want ‘Lanka’ to be a success so that the producer’s belief in making different kind of films gets stronger and he can make more films like Lanka,” says the actor.
With memories of Mani Ratnam’s ‘Raavan’ still fresh in audience’s mind, Maqbool and Manoj have a mammoth task ahead of them. The actor is now looking forward to the release of ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, directed by Anurag Kashyap and ‘Chittagong’, which tells the story of Bengali freedom fighter Masterda Surya Sen.