As Manoj Bajpayee turns 56, we look back at his National Award-winning roles that show why he's one of Bollywood’s finest actors.
Manoj Bajpayee, one of Bollywood’s most versatile actors, is celebrating his 56th birthday today. Born in a small village in Bihar, he had the dream of becoming an actor since childhood. And today, he has earned recognition not just in India but also on the international stage, receiving accolades at prestigious film festivals for his remarkable performances. With a career spanning over 25 years, Manoj has consistently shown his exceptional acting talent and brought to life a variety of memorable characters across genres. On his birthday, let’s revisit his National Film Award-winning films.
A crime film directed by Ram Gopal Varma, Satya features J. D. Chakravarthy, Urmila Matondkar, and Manoj Bajpayee in lead roles, along with Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Shrivastava, and Paresh Rawal. It marks the first installment in Varma's Gangster Trilogy centered on organised crime in India. Manoj Bajpayee played the character of Bhiku Mhatre. He was first considered for the title role, but as the story took shape, Varma felt Bhiku needed someone with a stronger command of Hindi. Bajpayee’s powerful performance earned him the Best Supporting Actor award at the 46th National Film Awards.
‘Pinjar’ is a historical drama that revolves around the Hindu-Muslim tensions during the Partition of India. The film is based on Amrita Pritam’s acclaimed Punjabi novel of the same name. Featuring Urmila Matondkar, Manoj Bajpayee, and Sanjay Suri in lead roles, ‘Pinjar’ was widely praised by critics. It went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, while Manoj Bajpayee received the Special Jury Award for his impactful performance.
Written and directed by Devashish Makhija, ‘Bhonsle’ is a drama film featuring Manoj Bajpayee in the titular role of a retired Mumbai police officer. The story follows his unlikely bond with a North Indian girl and her brother, who, like many migrants, become targets of local political hostility. Bajpayee’s powerful performance earned widespread acclaim, with critics noting how his “hermit retiree emerges as a quiet-spoken hero who opposes the racist hate-mongering around him with cool disdain.” For this role, he was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Actor at the 67th National Film Awards.
Starring Sharmila Tagore, Manoj Bajpayee, Simran, Suraj Sharma, Amol Palekar, and Kaveri Seth, ‘Gulmohar’ is a heartfelt family drama written and directed by Rahul V. Chittella. Critics praised the film for its subtle, emotional storytelling and lauded the ensemble cast for their performances. At the 2023 Filmfare OTT Awards, Gulmohar earned 14 nominations and won 3 awards. The film also made a mark at the 70th National Film Awards, winning Best Feature Film in Hindi, Best Screenplay (Dialogues), and a Special Mention (Feature Film) award for Manoj Bajpayee’s performance.
