‘I’ll always be indebted to Ram Gopal Verma,’ says Manoj as ‘Satya’ clocks 25 years

Ram Gopal Verma’s Satya, which hit cinemas exactly 25 years ago, turned out to be a game-changer for actor Manoj Bajpayee. The actor received an overwhelming response for playing the character of Bhiku Matre.

As the iconic film completes 25 years of its theatrical release on Monday, the National Film Award-winning actor opened up about the great impact of the film on his career. He said that he will always be “indebted” to both the film and director Ram Gopal Verma.

“I didn’t have a career when I did Satya. I was just getting some small roles here and there, and surviving in the city. Satya has given me a career. My career came in full shape after this film,” Bajpayee said.

The actor also revealed how he got the part in the film. “I was taken to Ramu by Kannan Iyer. When Ramu came to know I played Maan Singh in Bandit Queen, he jumped and said, ‘I loved you in that film and I always wanted to give you work in my films, but please don’t do Daud.’ But I was insistent on doing the film Daud because it was giving me money and a role. Although it was a small role, I didn’t mind it, because beggars can’t be choosers.”

Bajpayee added, “If I look back, so many dialogues of Satya became so popular that they are famous even now. Topmost being, ‘Mumbai ka king kaun?’ I am not an actor who believed in dialogue-baazi, but I was just living in the character.”

In addition to Manoj Bajpayee, Satya also featured Urmila Matondkar, Shefali Shah, and Saurabh Shukla in pivotal roles.