From facing three rejections from NSD to becoming one of India’s finest actors, Manoj Bajpayee’s story is a true story of passion, struggle, and success.
One of the most acclaimed actors in Indian cinema, Manoj Bajpayee turns 56 today! While he has carved a niche for himself in Hindi films, his talent also extends to Telugu and Tamil cinema. He made his feature film debut with a brief one-minute appearance in Drohkaal (1994), followed by a small role as a dacoit in Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen. After a string of unnoticed performances, his portrayal of gangster Bhiku Mhatre in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1998 crime drama Satya marked a turning point in his career. Since then, there’s been no looking back. Bajpayee has earned numerous accolades, including four National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards, and two Asia Pacific Screen Awards. In 2019, he was honored with the Padma Shri. But did you know he was rejected by the National School of Drama three times before rising to stardom?
No doubt, Manoj Bajpayee is one of the most successful and critically acclaimed actors in the country today—but his journey to success was anything but easy. It’s hard to believe that an actor of his calibre once faced rejection from the National School of Drama (NSD)—not once, but three times. His story is one of resilience, of fighting through failure to finally claim the recognition he so rightly deserved.
Born in a small village in Bihar, Bajpayee had dreamt of becoming an actor since childhood. At 17, he moved to Delhi and enrolled first at Satyawati College, then at Ramjas College, Delhi University. Inspired by legends like Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah, he set his sights on NSD and applied for admission. Despite having three years of theatre experience, his application was rejected. That first rejection hit hard—he had no backup plan, no alternate ambition. It took him two months to recover and redirect his energy toward learning the craft elsewhere.
Determined to improve, he began seeking other opportunities to hone his skills. The following year, he reapplied to NSD, this time with a stronger foundation and a Plan B. However, he faced three rejections, which left him so devastated that he even contemplated taking his own life.
On the advice of actor Raghubir Yadav, he joined a workshop conducted by director and acting coach Barry John. So impressed was John by Bajpayee's talent that he hired him as an assistant for his acting classes. Eventually, when Bajpayee applied to NSD for the fourth time, the response was unexpected—they didn’t admit him as a student, but offered him a position as a teacher instead. That moment marked not just a turning point in his journey, but a quiet validation of his talent.
Manoj has truly come a long way since facing multiple rejections from NSD. Renowned director Ram Gopal Varma once called him “an education” and said he is “simply the best actor I’ve ever worked with.” Known for his intense dedication to the craft, Manoj is both a method actor and a director’s actor, celebrated today for portraying unconventional and deeply layered characters on screen.
