Manoj Bajpayee and Shah Rukh Khan both started their acting careers in Barry John’s theatre group in Delhi, at a time when they were struggling to make ends meet. While Shah Rukh Khan quickly became a superstar in the late 90s, Manoj Bajpayee’s rise to success took longer. Despite the difference in their trajectories, Bajpayee has no bitterness towards Khan’s success.
In an interview with Barkha Dutt, Bajpayee shared that Shah Rukh always aspired to be a star, craving attention and love from the public. However, Bajpayee’s goals were different. “That was not my target,” he said, adding that he was content being in the background and “completely okay with not being surrounded by 20 people.” Bajpayee mentioned that he was fine with being a “fly on the wall,” and this approach didn’t impact his confidence.
Reflecting on their relationship, Bajpayee noted the difference in their worlds, stating that while Khan was always surrounded by people, he preferred a quieter existence. “We come from different worlds,” he explained, acknowledging that their social circles never overlapped. Bajpayee also mentioned that Barry John supported him in his early career, offering roles despite his struggles with the English language, whereas Khan had moved to Mumbai much earlier to pursue his Bollywood career.
Despite their different paths, Bajpayee and Khan share mutual respect for each other’s journeys. Bajpayee added that their friendship was never deeply intertwined due to the stark contrast in their personal and professional lives.