Daud: Fun on the Run

Manoj Bajpai heard from Kanan Iyer that Ram Gopal Verma was casting a role of a side villain for Daud. Irrfan Khan and Vineet Kumar were also in the running for the role. When Manoj arrived at Ram Gopal's office he sat down for his interview. Verma asked Manoj what films he had done. Manoj told him he had done Bandit Queen. Verma did not believe him. Verma told Manoj he had seen Bandit Queen twice and could not remember him. Manoj told him he played a silent role of Maan Singh. Ram Gopal Verma sat up in complete shock. He told Manoj he did not believe he was the same actor. Manoj looked very different in that film. Plus the actor who played Maan Singh looked older. Manoj told Ram Gopal he grew a beard for that film and was made to look older. Ram Gopal Verma told Manoj he was searching for him for 3 long years. He loved his performance in Bandit Queen but no one was giving him any information about Manoj. Where to find him, his phone number etc. Ram Gopal told Manoj not to do the role in Daud because he would make Satya and give him the main role. Manoj insisted he do Daud because he needed the money badly.

References Sholay (1975)