Manoj Bajpayee, one of India’s most critically acclaimed actors, recently shared a candid opinion about Oscar-winning Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio. Known for his nuanced and grounded performances across films like Satya, Gangs of Wasseypur, and the Amazon series The Family Man, Bajpayee surprised many with his take on DiCaprio’s acting style.
‘He Tries Too Hard’: Bajpayee Reflects on DiCaprio’s Craft
During an interview in 2024 with Chalchitra Talks, when the host of the show mentioned not finding DiCaprio particularly compelling on screen, Bajpayee did not disagree. Instead, he revealed he had similar thoughts. “He works very hard. DiCaprio ka, aap bilkul sahi keh rahe ho. I don't blame you for thinking that way, ye thought mere mein bhi bohot baar aya hain,” Bajpayee said, admitting he too had questioned DiCaprio’s on-screen impact several times.
He added that he had tried to understand this perception by studying DiCaprio’s behind-the-scenes clips from various films. “I saw some BTS clips from his films,” he explained, indicating a deeper interest in understanding DiCaprio’s approach rather than dismissing him outright.
Intent Versus Impact: The Core of Bajpayee’s Critique
Bajpayee went further, observing DiCaprio’s behavior during shoots. “I was not looking at anything, I was just looking at DiCaprio. And how he is before the shot. What is he doing between the shots,” he said. According to Bajpayee, DiCaprio's intense preparation might be part of the problem. “I realised that he is putting in too much. He is… bohot jyaada hard ho raha hain. Isiliye work nahi karta hain. His intent is great.”
He acknowledged DiCaprio’s commitment and the trust directors like Martin Scorsese place in him. “Scorsese uske saath lagatar kaam kar raha hain. Jo woh karna chahta hain, jin cheezon ko woh support karta hain woh push karta in saare directors ke kaam ko…”
DiCaprio and Bajpayee: Different Schools of Acting
While DiCaprio is known globally for roles in films like Titanic, The Revenant, and The Wolf of Wall Street, Bajpayee represents a more understated acting tradition. His performances often reflect deep internalisation, which perhaps explains his perspective on DiCaprio’s visible effort on screen.
DiCaprio is set to appear next in One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, along with another upcoming collaboration with Scorsese.
Busy Schedule Ahead for Bajpayee
Back in India, Manoj Bajpayee continues to stay active in the crime genre. He was last seen in Despatch, now streaming on ZEE5, and is preparing for the release of The Family Man Season 3. He is also working on a new untitled crime drama alongside Akshay Oberoi and Saqib Saleem. The project, currently filming across various Indian cities including Bhopal, has been kept tightly under wraps, but early reports hint at strong chemistry between the cast.
Known for consistently defying Bollywood norms, Bajpayee has often been seen as a torchbearer of realistic acting in Indian cinema. Fellow actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui recently credited him and the late Irrfan Khan for breaking stereotypes and inspiring actors like himself. “Manoj bhai had just done Satya, and he was already changing perceptions,” Siddiqui recalled in an interview.
‘He Tries Too Hard’: Bajpayee Reflects on DiCaprio’s Craft
During an interview in 2024 with Chalchitra Talks, when the host of the show mentioned not finding DiCaprio particularly compelling on screen, Bajpayee did not disagree. Instead, he revealed he had similar thoughts. “He works very hard. DiCaprio ka, aap bilkul sahi keh rahe ho. I don't blame you for thinking that way, ye thought mere mein bhi bohot baar aya hain,” Bajpayee said, admitting he too had questioned DiCaprio’s on-screen impact several times.
He added that he had tried to understand this perception by studying DiCaprio’s behind-the-scenes clips from various films. “I saw some BTS clips from his films,” he explained, indicating a deeper interest in understanding DiCaprio’s approach rather than dismissing him outright.
Intent Versus Impact: The Core of Bajpayee’s Critique
Bajpayee went further, observing DiCaprio’s behavior during shoots. “I was not looking at anything, I was just looking at DiCaprio. And how he is before the shot. What is he doing between the shots,” he said. According to Bajpayee, DiCaprio's intense preparation might be part of the problem. “I realised that he is putting in too much. He is… bohot jyaada hard ho raha hain. Isiliye work nahi karta hain. His intent is great.”
He acknowledged DiCaprio’s commitment and the trust directors like Martin Scorsese place in him. “Scorsese uske saath lagatar kaam kar raha hain. Jo woh karna chahta hain, jin cheezon ko woh support karta hain woh push karta in saare directors ke kaam ko…”
DiCaprio and Bajpayee: Different Schools of Acting
While DiCaprio is known globally for roles in films like Titanic, The Revenant, and The Wolf of Wall Street, Bajpayee represents a more understated acting tradition. His performances often reflect deep internalisation, which perhaps explains his perspective on DiCaprio’s visible effort on screen.
DiCaprio is set to appear next in One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, along with another upcoming collaboration with Scorsese.
Busy Schedule Ahead for Bajpayee
Back in India, Manoj Bajpayee continues to stay active in the crime genre. He was last seen in Despatch, now streaming on ZEE5, and is preparing for the release of The Family Man Season 3. He is also working on a new untitled crime drama alongside Akshay Oberoi and Saqib Saleem. The project, currently filming across various Indian cities including Bhopal, has been kept tightly under wraps, but early reports hint at strong chemistry between the cast.
Known for consistently defying Bollywood norms, Bajpayee has often been seen as a torchbearer of realistic acting in Indian cinema. Fellow actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui recently credited him and the late Irrfan Khan for breaking stereotypes and inspiring actors like himself. “Manoj bhai had just done Satya, and he was already changing perceptions,” Siddiqui recalled in an interview.
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