Manoj Bajpayee recalls getting hilariously drunk at first meeting with Mahesh Bhatt
Synopsis
Long before his three National Awards, Manoj Bajpayee sat down with Mahesh Bhatt for the first time — and quietly drank himself to the point of seeing four directors. The resurfaced Kapil Sharma Show clip is a rare, self-deprecating glimpse at the nervous young actor who hid his refills and tried to look sober in front of one of Bollywood's biggest names.
Key Takeaways
Manoj Bajpayee recalled a comical first meeting with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt in a resurfaced clip from The Kapil Sharma Show .
Bhatt had invited Bajpayee to his home after being impressed by his work on TV series 'Swabhimaan' , calling him at 10:30 pm .
Bajpayee secretly refilled his whisky glass each time Bhatt stepped away, leading to him seeing four versions of the director by the end of the evening.
The clip resurfaced following the release of Bajpayee's latest project, 'Last Man in Tower' .
Director Anubhav Sinha was also present on the show when the anecdote was shared.
Three-time National Award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee has revisited a memorable and comical anecdote from the early days of his career — the evening he met filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt for the first time and ended up seeing four versions of the director by the end of the night. The story resurfaced after a clip from The Kapil Sharma Show began circulating online, featuring Bajpayee alongside director Anubhav Sinha.
The Late-Night Summons
According to Bajpayee, the encounter began with an unexpected late-night message from Bhatt. Bhatt had reportedly been impressed by the actor's work on the TV series 'Swabhimaan' and wasted no time reaching out. 'Once, I got a message from Mahesh Bhatt. He said, "I have seen your episode. You call me on this number, right now". It was 10:30 pm,' Bajpayee recalled. Despite the late hour, the actor immediately agreed to visit and made his way to Bhatt's residence.
A Bottle Too Many
What followed was an evening that Bajpayee clearly had not anticipated. Upon arrival, Bhatt screened the episode of 'Swabhimaan' and lavished praise on the young actor. The conversation then took a decidedly spirited turn. 'He asked me if I would like to have a drink. How do I say this? It was Mahesh Bhatt's first meeting. I was in my senses. He kept a bottle in front of me,' Bajpayee recounted. Reluctant to appear rude in front of such an influential filmmaker, he accepted the offer.
The whisky, however, proved deceptively smooth. 'He asked me if I knew what it was. I said, "Sir, it's whisky". I had a drink. I felt as if I was drinking water,' the actor said. Seizing the moments when Bhatt stepped away, Bajpayee admitted to quietly helping himself to additional pours and returning to his seat as though nothing had happened.
Four Mahesh Bhatts and Counting
The consequences became apparent within the hour. 'After an hour, I saw 4 Mahesh Bhatt sir. After 40 minutes, I couldn't understand if these are the right people. Or these are the right people. Or these are the wrong people,' he confessed, to evident amusement. The anecdote offers a candid, self-deprecating window into the nervous energy of a young actor navigating his first brush with one of Bollywood's most celebrated directors.
Context: Career at the Time
The encounter reportedly took place during the period when Bajpayee was building his television footprint before breaking through on the big screen. Mahesh Bhatt was already a towering figure in Hindi cinema, known for critically acclaimed films that often pushed the industry's thematic boundaries. The clip has resurfaced in the wake of Bajpayee's latest project, 'Last Man in Tower', reigniting audience interest in the actor's earlier stories. His candid recollection is a reminder that even India's most decorated screen performers once navigated the industry with a mix of ambition and anxiety — sometimes with a glass too many in hand.
Point of View
Fallible side of actors they now regard as untouchable. Bajpayee's self-deprecating candour — admitting he snuck drinks in front of an industry titan he barely knew — is precisely the kind of story that cuts through the curated Bollywood image machine. It also quietly underscores how much of early-career navigation in the industry runs on nervousness and improvisation rather than strategy. That this anecdote resurfaces every few years, and still lands, says something about the lasting appeal of authenticity over award-season gravitas.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of Manoj Bajpayee's first meeting with Mahesh Bhatt?
Mahesh Bhatt called Manoj Bajpayee to his home late at night after being impressed by his work on the TV series 'Swabhimaan'. During the visit, Bhatt offered him whisky, and Bajpayee ended up quietly refilling his own glass multiple times, eventually seeing four versions of the director by the end of the evening.
Where did Manoj Bajpayee share this anecdote?
Bajpayee shared the story on The Kapil Sharma Show, alongside director Anubhav Sinha. A clip from that episode has resurfaced online and gone viral.
Why has this old clip resurfaced now?
The clip has regained attention following the release of Bajpayee's latest project, 'Last Man in Tower', which renewed public interest in the actor's career and personal stories.
What TV show impressed Mahesh Bhatt enough to call Manoj Bajpayee?
Bhatt had watched an episode of 'Swabhimaan', the Hindi television series in which Bajpayee appeared, and was impressed enough to call him the same night and invite him over.
How many National Awards has Manoj Bajpayee won?
Manoj Bajpayee is a three-time National Award winner, widely regarded as one of Hindi cinema's most accomplished and versatile actors.
