Manoj Bajpayee on 'Bhonsle', 'Tandav' and 'Joram': How struggle built a trilogy
Synopsis
Manoj Bajpayee didn't just act in 'Bhonsle' and 'Joram' — he helped fund them. In a rare candid account, he traces how a ₹30–35 lakh short film made out of desperation became the launchpad for two National Award-calibre features, and why 'Joram' cost him more physically than any role before it.
Key Takeaways
Manoj Bajpayee revealed the shared origin story of 'Tandav' , 'Bhonsle' , and 'Joram' during promotions for 'Governor' (releasing 12 June 2026 ). 'Tandav' was made on a budget of just ₹30–35 lakh after the original feature project lost funding; it went viral on YouTube and won international awards.
Bajpayee personally arranged financing for 'Bhonsle' , which earned him the National Award for Best Performance by an Actor . 'Joram' was greenlit by Shahrukh Patel , then CEO of Zee Studios , after Bajpayee pitched the project directly.
Bajpayee described 'Joram' as physically gruelling but called it one of his best performances.
Three-time National Award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee has revealed the behind-the-scenes struggles that gave birth to three of his most celebrated works — 'Tandav', 'Bhonsle', and 'Joram' — all forged through a creative partnership with filmmaker Devashish Makhija. The actor spoke candidly during the promotional circuit for his upcoming film 'Governor', in which he plays an RBI Governor, set to release on 12 June 2026.
How 'Tandav' Came First
Bajpayee explained that his collaboration with Makhija predates the filmmaker's entry into mainstream cinema. "Devashish Makhija made his foray into the cinema... before that, I don't think they were on a cinema camera," he said. The two were originally developing a different feature film together, but were unable to secure funding. Rather than abandon the partnership, Bajpayee suggested they make a short film instead.
Makhija returned within two days with the script for 'Tandav'. Shot on a budget of roughly ₹30–35 lakh, the short film became a viral phenomenon on YouTube and went on to win multiple international laurels — a remarkable outcome for a project born entirely out of financial constraint.
The Long Road to 'Bhonsle'
Bajpayee acknowledged that the financial groundwork for 'Bhonsle' was largely his own responsibility. "I was the one who was already popular, and working in the industry," he said, noting that Makhija was not in a position to independently arrange resources. It was only after 'Tandav' began generating returns that the feature finally moved forward.
The wait proved worth it. 'Bhonsle' earned Bajpayee the National Award for Best Performance by an Actor, cementing the film's place among the finest of his career.
'Joram' and the Physical Toll of Immersive Cinema
Even before 'Bhonsle' wrapped, Makhija had already pitched Bajpayee the story that would become 'Joram'. The actor took the project to Shahrukh Patel, then CEO of Zee Studios, who greenlit it immediately. "I told him about it. He said, 'We are ready to do the film'," Bajpayee recalled.
'Joram' turned out to be one of the most physically and emotionally demanding shoots of his career. "It has troubled me. It has tested me. I have lost my feet. The amount of shooting I had — it was so immersive," he said. Despite the ordeal, Bajpayee described it as one of his finest performances. "I am so proud of that performance," he added.
About 'Governor'
'Governor' is presented by Sunshine Pictures, produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, and directed by Chinmay Mandlekar. The film is co-produced by Aashin A. Shah and written by Suvendu Bhattacharyjee, Saurabh Bharat, Ravi Asrani, and Vipul Amrutlal Shah. It releases on 12 June 2026.
Point of View
Neither 'Bhonsle' nor 'Joram' would have existed — a reminder that the infrastructure gap between art-house ambition and actual production is routinely bridged by one bankable name willing to take the risk. That Makhija's entire filmography essentially exists because Bajpayee said yes to a ₹30–35 lakh short film is a story the awards circuit rarely tells. As 'Governor' positions Bajpayee in a more mainstream register, the question is whether the Makhija partnership — India's most quietly productive actor-director axis — has another chapter left.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the connection between Manoj Bajpayee's 'Bhonsle', 'Tandav' and 'Joram'?
All three projects were made in collaboration with filmmaker Devashish Makhija. 'Tandav' came first as a short film born out of funding constraints, its success enabled 'Bhonsle', and Makhija pitched 'Joram' to Bajpayee even before 'Bhonsle' was complete.
How was 'Tandav' made on such a small budget?
'Tandav' was shot on a budget of approximately ₹30–35 lakh after the original feature film the duo planned could not secure funding. Bajpayee suggested making a short film instead, and Makhija delivered the script within two days.
How did 'Joram' get produced?
Manoj Bajpayee pitched the story to Shahrukh Patel, then CEO of Zee Studios, who agreed to back it immediately. Bajpayee has described 'Joram' as one of his most physically demanding and proudest performances.
What National Award did Manoj Bajpayee win for 'Bhonsle'?
Manoj Bajpayee won the National Award for Best Performance by an Actor for his role in 'Bhonsle'. The film was produced after 'Tandav' began generating revenue.
What is Manoj Bajpayee's upcoming film 'Governor' about?
'Governor' features Bajpayee as an RBI Governor. Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah under Sunshine Pictures and directed by Chinmay Mandlekar, the film is set to release on 12 June 2026.
