I'm looking forward to TV offers: Manoj Bajpayee

Sep 17, 2010 IANS

New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) Having already proven his mettle on the big screen, National Award winning actor Manoj Bajpayee is now anticipating offers from the small screen and says producing films is also one of his options.

'I am looking forward to offers on TV. In fact, I am waiting for these to happen,' Manoj told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

No points for guessing that even the serious actor has fallen prey to the lure of reality shows on the idiot box.

'Fiction is too much of a commitment because it comes twice or thrice in a week and sometimes four to five times in a week. Taking out time and shooting for a fiction show is quite impossible at this point for me,' he said.

'But yes, a reality show is something you give maximum 10 days in a month and you can do as much as possible. That is something I can do at this point of time,' added Manoj, who has been chosen as the celebrity of the month by UTV World Movies for its '50 movies to see before you die' segment.

So what kind of reality show would that be?

'One reality show that I loved watching is 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' and the way Mr. (Amitabh) Bachchan handled it. The way he commanded respect and with the dignity that he approached the entire game is something to learn from... something like that definitely,' he said.

But says he will never participate in a show like KBC as a contestant.

'I will never be a participant in a quiz show like 'Kaun Banega Crorepati'. I'll expose myself,' said Manoj, whose latest release is Telugu action movie 'Puli'.

So that means there are layers to be unravelled of Manoj's persona?

'Or there is no layer at all,' quickly responded the actor, who won laurels for his modern adaptation of Duryodhana in 'Raajneeti'.

His aspirations don't end here.

'In future, I'd love to produce films. That is something I think I can do but there is no immediate plan for that. But production is something that I can think of,' he said.

What about writing or direction?

'I can't do writing. It is a very lonely job. As far as direction is concerned you never know…I never say never. Anything can happen anytime,' he said.

Irrespective of the medium, the versatile actor is, however, confident his performance won't ever get hampered in any which way.

'I will work with the same intensity and sincerity that I have been doing and definitely my audiences will never be disappointed,' he said.

Manoj's forthcoming releases include 3D animated movie 'Ramayana - The Epic' where he has dubbed for Lord Rama - 'Dus Tola' and 'Chittagong'. His future projects are 'Aarakshan' and Anurag Kashyap's yet untitled mafia thriller.