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Manoj Bajpayee On Being In Same Acting Class As Shah Rukh Khan: 'He Always Wanted... Attention'


Manoj Bajpayee On Being In Same Acting Class As Shah Rukh Khan: 'He Always Wanted... Attention'

Recently, Manoj Bajpayee recalled training with acting coach Barry John in New Delhi, where he was a batchmate with Shah Rukh Khan. Reflecting on those days, Bajpayee said he and SRK didn't spend much time together as they had different aspirations and came from distinct backgrounds. He said, "King Khan was always a charming guy, and knew he belonged to a khas duniya."

In a recent interview with Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story, Bajpayee answered whether he feels resentful about Khan's stardom despite their shared beginnings. Bajpayee explained that Khan always aspired to be in the spotlight, seeking fame, admiration, and attention while his own ambitions were different.

Bajpayee said, "Shah Rukh Khan always wanted to be loved, to be a star, to be the centre of attention. That was not my target. I was completely okay with not being surrounded by 20 people in my theatre group. I was completely okay with nobody looking at me. I was completely okay with being a fly on the wall."

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A post shared by Manoj Bajpayee (@bajpayee.manoj)

Bajpayee described himself as being comfortable in the background, saying he never felt the need to be the center of attention, or have a large group of followers. When asked if this affected his confidence, Bajpayee said his confidence was only shaken by personal failures, and not by Khan's popularity. He expressed gratitude to acting coach Barry John for supporting him without judgment, especially when his limited English proficiency posed challenges.

Bajpayee recalled how Barry John would often assign him smaller roles in English plays featuring actors like Divya Seth, Rituraj Singh, or Shah Rukh Khan, helping him grow as a performer. When asked if he and King Khan were contemporaries, Bajpayee said that while they knew each other, their social circles and aspirations were vastly different.

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A post shared by Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk)

He explained that Khan always belonged to a distinct world, surrounded by admirers, even during their early days in New Delhi. Reflecting on their differences, Bajpayee described Khan as a naturally charismatic person who thrived in the company of others, while he preferred a more low-profile approach.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Manoj Bajpayee's next, Despatch, was released on Zee5 on 13 December 2024. Meanwhile, Khan will be next seen in Sujoy Ghosh's King with Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Abhay Verma.

See Also: Manoj Bajpayee Says There Were Days Where He Would Starve, Would Gatecrash Studios During Lunchtime

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