Manoj Bajpayee, one of India's most decorated screen performers and a multiple National Award winner, has opened up about what truly captivates him about the craft of acting — both on film and on stage. His candid reflections came during the promotional circuit for his latest release, 'Last Man in Tower', which has been drawing strong audience and critical response since hitting cinemas.

The Fear Before Every New Role

Speaking at a promotional event in Andheri West, Mumbai, alongside actress Divya Dutta and director Ben Rekhi, Bajpayee was asked what the fear of the unknown does to him before he takes on a new project. His answer was strikingly honest.

'Oh my God. I mean, sometimes you want to say no to it. Sometimes you just want to call Ben and say, I think I'm not the right fit because you're scared. There is a dark side of the character that you'll have to deal with. It's not easy,' he said.

Why He Loves Actors — Including Himself

Bajpayee went on to articulate what he believes separates great acting from mere performance — the willingness to confront one's own darkness before channelling a character's.

'That's why I love actors. Not that, you know, because I am an actor. I know what others go through. I love them because they have the ability to embrace the dark side of themselves. First, they embrace their own dark side then only they can relate to the character's dark side. So we are aware, and as actor we are brutal with them ourselves,' he explained.

He also underscored the deeply private nature of this inner process, noting that actors rarely speak about it publicly. 'They may not tell you, why should we tell you about our dark side? It's a very private thing. It's a very personal thing,' he said.

Self-Knowledge at the Core of the Craft

Bajpayee connected the act of playing complex, layered characters to the actor's own journey of self-understanding. 'All these roles, which have so much gray, so many layers, it's not easy. If I am not in the process of understanding myself or knowing myself, I cannot understand the character that I'm playing,' he added.

The remarks offer a rare window into the psychological discipline that has driven Bajpayee's decades-long career — one defined by morally ambiguous, emotionally demanding roles across both mainstream and parallel cinema.

About 'Last Man in Tower'

'Last Man in Tower', directed by Ben Rekhi, is currently playing in cinemas across India. The film has generated considerable buzz, with Bajpayee's performance drawing particular attention. The story is adapted from the celebrated novel by Aravind Adiga and explores themes of greed, community, and moral compromise — territory that, by his own admission, demands exactly the kind of inner reckoning Bajpayee described.