Manoj Bajpayee turned a year older today. At 52 years he is one of the most acclaimed Bollywood actors of recent times. With another Best Actor National Award under his belt for Bhonsle, Manoj has once again proved that he is an actor par excellence. The actor had recently contacted the coronavirus and was quarantined. However, he has recovered now and returned back to the sets.
Talking to a leading daily in an interview, he revealed that he is keeping his birthday extremely low-key this year and there won’t be any celebrations as such. When asked about his birthday plans, Manoj said, “I am not doing anything, it will be the first time I am not with family. (The celebration) does not feel right in the given situation, at a time when people around you are suffering, it does not look like you go and celebrate your birthday. (I am) definitely not celebrating. It must be the first time, that anybody associated with me is not interested in celebrating this birthday. Any kind of celebration is for good times. I do not think this is a good time. The nation, our world, and our society at large is suffering so much. Birthdays are not for the time when you suffer.”
He further spoke about the grim scenario in the country due to the coronavirus second wave and said, “Only bad news have been pouring in from all across - on social media, we see helpless people trying to help near and dear ones, helpless people unable to help those they want to..Sometimes, I feel we are living in a nightmare. I just hope and pray, pray hard, that we as a nation, as people of the world, come out of this nightmare as soon as possible. So many people in my family and friends are down with coronavirus. So many people are calling for help, it becomes difficult, but one has to put (the) best foot forward. No situation remains as is, so this too, will pass. We need to have hope in our hearts.”
He also revealed that his wife and actress Shabana (Neha) has been very proactive in lending help during the coronavirus pandemic and said, “Shabana ( wife) has always been there, she always feels we should contribute as much as we can to those in need. She also gives ideas and takes us in the right direction. She is the main force behind it. My daughter is too small to understand. I feel bad for my daughter, her friends and children like her who are stranded in side the house. I do not know what impact the pandemic will have on their minds. They can't go out, as parents we feel bad for them.”
(Source: Hindustan Times)
