WORKBOOK

Manoj
Baypayee
TEACHES ACTING
ABOUT
MANOJ BAJPAYEE

The life of Manoj Bajpayee is a simple yet fascinating story of a

dreamer, a believer, and ultimately an achiever. Born in a small
place, he has achieved success despite many hurdles
throughout his life.

Second, of six siblings, Manoj spent his childhood in Belwa, a

small village in Bihar. After his schooling, he moved to Delhi to
get his graduate degree from Ramjas College, Delhi University.
His passion always lies in action that brought him to the doors
of the National School of Drama. He attempted not once, not
twice but three times, and failed every time.

But, before he could finally give up on his lifelong dream of

becoming an actor, one of his friends told him about Barry
John’s Acting School. And from that day, Manoj has spent every
day doing what he truly loves – acting, acting, and acting.

The rough journey that started with three rejections took a

while to get on the smooth road. In 1994, Manjo got his first
break when he appeared in two films — Drohkaal, a crime drama
by Govind Nihalani, and another small yet memorable presence
in Shekar Kapur’s Bandit Queen.

His struggle continued, and he had to wait four more years to

play the iconic gangster Bhiku Mhatre in Ram Gopal Varma’s
crime drama Satya, which made him famous among people. For
this role, Bajpayee received the National Film Award for Best
Supporting Actor and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.

Manoj Bajpayee | 1
ABOUT
MANOJ BAJPAYEE

Since then, there was no turning back. But everything changed

in 2012 when Gangs of Wasseypur hit the theatres. Manoj
Bajpayee got his dues. Everyone was talking about him within a
week of its release. His brilliant acting and killer dialogue
delivery helped earn Gangs of Wasseypur a ‘cult’ status.

Over these years, Bajpayee has played all kinds of roles with
conviction — from the hero to the antagonist. Besides films in
the Hindi language, he has also acted in Tamil and Telugu
movies. His method acting has a distinguished style that makes
him an inspiration to anyone who dares to be an actor.

To date, he has two National Film Awards and four Filmfare

Awards under his belt. He also received the prestigious Padma
Shri in 2019 for his contributions to art.

Manoj Bajpayee | 2
WHAT’S INSIDE?
This workbook contains everything you learned in the unluclass and more! It provides you with a lot of
knowledge and helps you apply the lessons in real life. The workbook has chapters for all the topics
covered in the unluclass. Furthermore, this workbook is easily printable for comfortable use.

TOOLS

The workbook has assignments and daily exercises that

are highly recommended for a better learning
experience. The assignments and exercises entail
different real and reel life experiences. All you require is
an internet connection and a pen to complete these
assignments. No, you don’t need a notebook, there are
sections in the workbook after every chapter where
you can write notes.

COMMUNITY

The workbook allows you to work on assignments

which are shareable. We encourage the exchange of
assignments, notes and experience with other
students. Share them here, your unluguru will be
looking at all the messages and might provide some
valuable feedback!

Manoj Bajpayee | 3
HAPPY
LEARNING!

An actor is never
bigger than the
craft and an
actor is never
bigger than the
medium he is
working for.

Manoj Bajpayee | 4
 01

LESSON 1

WHAT IS
ACTING?

Manoj Bajpayee | 5
 LESSON 1
LESSON 1

WHAT IS
ACTING?

What makes him different? What makes his acting memorable

for years? Why do his dialogues become a part of pop culture?
Manoj Bajpayee puts it rather simply,

“Don’t try to play the

character, live the
character.”
So what is acting indeed? It might take months, years or
sometimes the whole life to realize that the most crucial thing
about acting is not acting at all. An actor is someone who just
tries to be and not to act. Acting is not trying to act - that’s
mimicry. Acting is not fooling the audience, acting is making the
audience believe that you are not playing a character, you are the
character.
If you will try to play a role, you will never be able to do justice to
the craft nor to the character but if you’ll try to be the character,
if you will try to cease to exist and allow the character to take
your place, then only you can do the justice to the character.
When you don’t exist, only that character does, no one sees you.
They only see the character. His sorrow becomes your sorrow.
His happiness becomes your happiness. What hurts him, will
hurt you.
Be the character, don’t play the character. Live the character’s
life, don’t play his role because acting is being the character and
an actor is the one who tries to be.

Manoj Bajpayee | 6
 02

LESSON 2

MANOJ BAJPAYEE’S
JOURNEY

Manoj Bajpayee | 7
 LESSON 2
LESSON 2

MANOJ BAJPAYEE’S
JOURNEY

What made Manoj such a big name in the industry?

From Manoj’s journey we learn that no matter what the

circumstances be, one can achieve anything if they put their
mind to it. Manoj never left a single opportunity which allowed
him to be on stage. The actor inside him always wanted more; a
bigger stage, a larger audience, another chance to perform. Even
after facing rejection time and again, Manoj never gave up on
acting and continued doing ‘Nukkad Nataks’ (Street plays).
During his struggle period in Delhi he learnt from his failures. He
himself gauged his performances and learnt about his diction
not being up to the mark. He worked hard for it to be more
relatable for his audiences. The determination and constant self
improvement landed him one of the biggest opportunities an
aspiring actor can get. He got noticed by Barry John himself.

Manoj Bajpayee | 8
LESSON 2

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 9
 03

LESSON 3

NAVRAS

Manoj Bajpayee | 10
 LESSON 3
LESSON 3

NAVRAS

The Navras has been mentioned in Indian art and literature often.
Navras in the scriptures is defined as the nine human emotions:
Love - Shringaara
Laughter - Haasya
Compassion - Karuna
Anger - Roudra
Courage - Veera
Fear - Bhayaanaka
Disgust - Bheebhatsya
Wonder or surprise - Adbhutha
Tranquility - Shaantha

As Manoj puts it, “Acting is an ancient art”. He recommends reading

up on navras - the nine emotions in detail. He recommends learning
from it as much as you can. As an actor you don’t necessarily have
to apply it to your work, but it will definitely help you learn more
about the art and somewhere down the line come handy.

Manoj further talks about how this art can be used in today’s time
according to the platform. If you want to learn you must start from
the beginning. He recommends learning how to overact first! If you
know over acting, you will automatically learn the art of making it
subtle. But if you limit yourself to subtlety you might end up
looking expressionless on the screen.
It is important that as an actor you observe real life emotions to
bring them out better in reel life.

Manoj Bajpayee | 11
LESSON 3

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 12
 04

LESSON 4

CRACKING
THE AUDITION

Manoj Bajpayee | 13
 LESSON 4
LESSON 4

CRACKING
THE AUDITION

For a lot of actors auditioning is an anxiety inducing task. This

anxiety comes from the fear of getting rejected time and again
or from the fear of being judged by people. How can one
overcome these fears related to auditioning?

In order to overcome these fears and audition like a pro, one

needs to make peace with the fact that most of the time, the
director of the film is looking for a specific quality in the
character they are auditioning for, so 99% of the time rejection
has nothing to do with your skills. If your personality matches
what the director is looking for, you will get selected.
Actor also tend to learn to script right from the get go which
makes them forget a very important aspect of the process
which is understanding the script and the character. Manoj
recommends reading the script a few times before you start
performing or trying to learn the dialogues. Every time you read
it you’ll find a new detail that you might’ve missed before.
Reading and understanding the script instead of mugging it up
will bring life to the character you are playing.

Manoj Bajpayee | 14
LESSON 4

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 15
 05

LESSON 5

BREAKING DOWN
THE SCRIPT

Manoj Bajpayee | 16
 LESSON 5
LESSON 5

BREAKING DOWN
THE SCRIPT

The script is your roadmap to a successful film. Breaking down

and understanding the script as a part of the project is every
actor’s duty. If you focus on just the character you are playing,
you will never be able to do justice to your role and bring out the
essence of the character.

The first step to breaking down the script involves reading it and
really reading it. While reading you don’t have to act, or try to
remember the dialogues. All you need to do is read it like you are
reading the story. Once you are done reading it, read it again! This
time highlight the important bits, or make notes. Repeat this
process a few times until the script becomes a part of you.

Manoj Bajpayee | 17
LESSON 5

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 18
 06

LESSON 6

GETTING INSPIRATION
FOR THE CHARACTER &
CREATING CHARACTER
BIOGRAPHIES

Manoj Bajpayee | 19
 LESSON 6
LESSON 6

GETTING INSPIRATION
FOR THE CHARACTER &
CREATING CHARACTER
BIOGRAPHIES
You need to find the essence of the character you are playing. All
you need is to deep dive into what your character is by reading
your script over and over. Another very important thing Manoj
mentions is that it is very important for you to stay true to your
original self and not imitate someone. Learn and get inspired
from everybody but never try to copy another. The day you lose
your originality will be the end of it.

Manoj Bajpayee | 20
 LESSON 6
LESSON 6

ASSIGNMENT
Pick up your favourite character from any film. Step into their
shoes and try to answer some important personal questions
about them that help define the character as if they were real.

Question 1: What do you think that character does to make a

living? Doesn’t matter if their profession has not been shown in
the film. This is all about your interpretation of the character.

Question 2: Do you think they like dogs or are they a cat person?

Question 3: How old are they and what do you think their life’s
journey so far has been like?

Question 4: Who do you think is the most important person in

their life? Doesn’t have to be a character in the film; It could be
their mom, even if there was no scene with the mother.

Question 5: What are their priorities?

Question 6: What kind of movies do you think they would want

to watch?

These are just some sample questions; you can add more
questions to this depending on the character you pick.

The aim here is to understand the character in depth with the

details one may or may not use in the film. These small details
ultimately help give a defined personality to your character and
makes it stand out from the crowd.

This little difference will ensure that your performance of the

particular character is unique and better than any other.

Manoj Bajpayee | 21
LESSON 6

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 22
 07

LESSON 7

CREATING PHYSICAL
ATTRIBUTES OF THE
CHARACTER

Manoj Bajpayee | 23
 LESSON 7
LESSON 7

CREATING PHYSICAL
ATTRIBUTES OF THE
CHARACTER

The physical attributes you pick up for your character can make
or break it. You can pick up physical attributes from the person
you most relate the character with. Or you can pick up instances
from the script in order to define physical attributes of the
character. For instance if in a scene the character gets into an
accident and injures their knee, you can pick up a limp as a
physical attribute for the scenes after the accident. Sometimes
the director might define certain physical attributes that are
required for you to truly be the character you re playing. A lot of
actors gain and lose weight in order to get in shape for their
characters. Sometimes they go through proper training for
specific characters to make them look more authentic. For
example if the character is that of a very successful cricket
player, the actor must train in cricket for their movements to do
justice to the character they are playing.

Manoj Bajpayee | 24
LESSON 7

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 25
 08

LESSON 8

CATCHING
DIALECTS

Manoj Bajpayee | 26
 LESSON 8
LESSON 8

CATCHING
DIALECTS

Two of the most critically acclaimed roles of Manoj Bajpayee

showcase how good the actor is at picking up the character’s
dialect.

One is Bhikhu Mhatre in Satya, and another is Prof in Aligarh.

Both of these characters are Marathi, but they have different
dialects.

Bhikhu is a tapori, and the prof is rather sophisticated.

While sharing his experience, Bajyapee talks about why an actor
needs to learn a new dialect as the character demands.
There are so many tricks and techniques to learn a dialect, but
one must try what works best for you.

If you have the time and financial support, you can always go to a
professional dialect coach. If not, you can learn it yourself by
putting in effort and constant practice.

One of the most effective ways is to listen to native speakers

who speak authentically in the natural accent you want to learn.
Check out interviews of those people who speak with that
particular accent. If you can converse with a native speaker, it is a
huge plus.

Learn how an average person would talk. Besides the ups and
downs of the conversation, you will also improve your
vocabulary.

You can learn a lot from slang and songs of any language, so try
to indulge in the language. Go deeper.

Manoj Bajpayee | 27
 LESSON 8
LESSON 8

CATCHING
DIALECTS

While learning a new dialect, don’t forget a major thing: it’s all
about the character.

If your character is a 16 years old aspiring singer from western UP

who has never been to school, his dialect will be different from a
16-year-old aspiring singer from western UP who is a college
student.

So, your dialect heavily depends on the character and not the
place or language.

That’s why it’s essential to understand the character before

learning the dialect.

Identify where the character comes from, his or her background.

Some of this information may not be available in the script, but
you can find it from your insight. Or ask the scriptwriter what
they had in mind while visualizing the character.

In this process of learning a dialect, don’t run too fast. You still
have to learn the basic rules of catching a dialect.

It is a great career option in your acting journey, which you must

not neglect.

The ability to learn dialect quickly and effectively can open

additional opportunities in the world of voice cinema.

Manoj Bajpayee | 28
LESSON 8

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 29
 09

LESSON 9

METHOD ACTING

Manoj Bajpayee | 30
 LESSON 9
LESSON 9

METHOD ACTING

Method acting is an acting technique or type of acting where

actors completely swim into the bottom of their roles. It is
defined as an organized technique that enables artists to behave
realistically under imaginary circumstances. Method acting has a
range of practice techniques which makes an actor more
expressive and impactful. There are some typical exercises for
those aspiring to be a method actor.

Relaxing exercise is to encourage the actor to move every part of

their body from their finger to their facial muscles in small
circles. This exercise helps to release any emotional tension at
the time of rehearsal.

Sense memory exercises include working on all five senses to

focus on your physical sensations. It is a training exercise where
actors can be asked to recall the sensual experience- sight,
sound, smell, touch or taste to use as a stimulation. The
stimulation then can be used to give birth to an emotional
reaction suitable to the scene.

Dance and song exercises are used to let the actor come out of
their habitat. To move your whole body and use different facial
expressions are useful for you to explore different ways of
opening up. Actors are often asked to sing one syllable at a time
in unpredictable ways without using your hands and facial
expressions.

Manoj Bajpayee | 31
 LESSON 9
LESSON 9

METHOD ACTING

Having alone time with yourself or imagining you are alone in a

room while you are actually performing on stage. This is a
technique where an actor can be asked to perform any activity
they do in their private rehearsal room.

Animal exercise is an exercise whereby the actor studies an

animal, and mimics it- its posture, movement, eye contact, facial
expressions, gestures, pace, gait, etc. It is a practice to speak
gibberish and come out of the ordinary patterns of human
behaviour.

These are some of the basic techniques which are being used in
global cinema and acting industries. Initially they were used
majorly in theatre acting. There are a great number of method
artists who have excelled at this acting type. To name a few-
Manoj Bajpayee, Naseeruddin Shah, Robert De Niro, Maryl Streep,
Irrfan Khan.

Manoj Bajpayee | 32
LESSON 9

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 33
 10

LESSON 10

IMPROVISATION

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LESSON 10

LESSON 1
IMPROVISATION

Improvisation, or improv is a live theatrical technique which is

not scripted or planned beforehand. It is a fundamental part of
theatre art which is performed spontaneously without any
scripted preparation. Often improvisers take suggestions from
the audience and act it out on the spot. It also works as an
inspiration to come up with something unique. Most of the
improvised acts are comedy-based while others are based on
drama. Here are a couple of things which can help you in your
journey to become an improv actor.

1. Thumb rule of “yes, and” improv acting can be summed up

with two key rules “yes, and”. You can use this trick for
anything your partner says you need to accept and build
something unique by accepting with (yes), and adding with
(and) their dialogue.

2. Join an improv acting class, join an institute or theatre

classes especially for improv outside your regular acting
classes. In those sessions you will get to learn how to
become more comfortable in improv acting. These classes
are beneficial for building your confidence, especially if
you’re aiming to perform in front of a live audience.

3. Read about the technique, read more and more content

about this technique. The more you will learn the better
you will understand the roots of improv art.

Manoj Bajpayee | 35
LESSON 10

LESSON 1
IMPROVISATION

4. Explore your character Whether it is a role of a kid or a

mother or a shopkeeper explore the depth of the character.
Make more stories in your head for giving it a real touch.

5. Use your imagination Improv art is mostly based on your

imagination. How creatively you portray the act in front of
a live audience.

6. Being an active listener listening to your partner is

important especially when there is no script. Being a good
listener can definitely help you be an improv artist.

7. Be spontaneous Since it is a performance which is not

based on one particular script you need to be
spontaneous. You have to keep changing the scenario by
collaborating with your partner. This is also a rule of ‘go
with the flow.’

Improvisation is spontaneous, entertaining, and fun. You get to

learn different things and explore more techniques while
performing. Improv acting opens more ways for you if you are
preparing for auditions. Hence, it is important to learn this
technique for your bright acting career.

Manoj Bajpayee | 36
LESSON 10

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 37
 11

LESSON 11

ACTOR-DIRECTOR
RELATIONSHIP

Manoj Bajpayee | 38
 LESSON 1
LESSON 11

ACTOR-DIRECTOR
RELATIONSHIP

The relationship of an actor and director is the most pious one.

Sometimes it can also get a bit challenging as it is a crucial element
in filmmaking. We have seen many actors and directors who
completely understand each other and make more than just one
film together. This is because of their relation on set as well as
behind the scenes.

If they are not connected with each other, film would be spoiled on
many levels. It is also one of the reasons why a film could not be
successful. They both inspire each other while they collaborate on
any project.

Manoj Bajpayee | 39
LESSON 11

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 40
 12

LESSON 12

ON SET
COLLABORATION

Manoj Bajpayee | 41
LESSON 12

LESSON 1
ON SET
COLLABORATION

Filmmaking is everything but definitely not a solo act.

Filmmakers have an entire crew with whom they collaborate. On
set collaboration is a result of coordination between all the
members who are working on a project. Each and every
individual has his/her contribution to the project. A good film is
also a result of good on set collaboration. Collaboration includes
all the different departments from the actors, editor’s team,
screenwriter team, producers, costume designers, VFX team,
music supervisors and so on. Sure, there can be some conflict of
thoughts between the director, actor or other crew which can
make things patchy. If you aspire to be a director or an actor, you
must learn the art of collaboration with different kinds of people.
How to learn collaboration techniques for on set collaboration.

Communication is always important in any teamwork. On the set

of a film project, you should learn how to communicate your
ideas and solve them together. Have regular gatherings with your
co-workers. It will be beneficial in the long run.

Encourage a creative environment among your people. Actors

always tend to add things to the script. Listen to their ideas and
try to apply them. It encourages other members to be more
creative and you will be able to make something beautiful with
this collaboration.

Manoj Bajpayee | 42
LESSON 12

LESSON 1
ON SET
COLLABORATION

Define the goals to your team. What do you expect from each
and every department? It will bring more authenticity to your
work. As an actor you need to understand what is your goal.
Relationship is an essential element of real collaboration.
Develop a good and sincere relationship with your crew
members. Try to know their concerns and grievances. Then only
your team will thrive.

Be a good observer, since you are new to the industry you will get
so many things to learn. It is important for you to observe closely
all the activities going on the set. A good observation leads to
good results.

Being a good listener is also an important key in on set

collaboration. While working with different kinds of people you
should listen to each and every co-worker.
Be an active member of the team for different activities. Actively
participating and being responsible for the things your seniors
suggest to you. It will also help you in overcoming your stage fear
(being an actor) while developing your personality to be a good
team member.

Manoj Bajpayee | 43
LESSON 12

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 44
 13

LESSON 13

VOICE TRAINING

Manoj Bajpayee | 45
LESSON 13

LESSON 1
VOICE TRAINING

The actor’s one of the most crucial tools is his or her voice. It is
their voice which gives breathing to the text. It takes a whole lot
of hard work to work on one’s voice. Proper training of voice
modulation, breathing and body control will help you act better
and lead to you landing more roles. There are two most essential
things involved- honest practice and learning vocal techniques.
Here are a few tips to strengthen your voice for a bright acting
career.

1. Warm up exercise before any act is important. Even for 5

minutes warm up your facial muscles with a small
stretching exercise. Actors should work on their tongue
muscles as well as jaw and face. This will help reduce the
strain.

2. Improve your breathing habits. Actors should remain

relaxed throughout breathing and speaking, this practice
reduces tension in the neck, shoulders, jaw, back and
stomach.

3. Practice on your reciting skills. When you get any book, or

script read out loud. It is also useful for your reciting
practice. The more you do it the better you get.

4. Be more attentive to your physical sensations when you

speak any word. Each word has a different vowel and
consonant that give them a different dimension.

Manoj Bajpayee | 46
LESSON 13

LESSON 1
VOICE TRAINING

5. Aligned body gestures along with your voice training is

equally important.

6. Yawning practice is a part of voice training exercise. Often

it lessens the tightness in the throat. Include this in your
daily warm-up routine.

7. Make sure you are well hydrated during your voice training.
Most actors neglect the value of being hydrated before
their act. It is important to drink plenty of water and carry
your water bottle with you.

Voice training is a major part of an acting career. One should

practice to make it more flexible, impactful and expressive.

Manoj Bajpayee | 47
LESSON 13

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 48
 14

LESSON 14

DUBBING

Manoj Bajpayee | 49
LESSON 14

LESSON 1
DUBBING

Dubbing in filmmaking is a process to replace the original

dialogue of a movie/TV serial from one language to another.
Dubbing artists are supposed to work on the previously recorded
sounds and voice and put their voice in any other language. This
technique is majorly used for translating the languages from
one to another or many. It takes a lot of hard work to the
filmmakers to synchronise each and every lip movement and
sound tracks. Dubbing is also used to add sound effects to the
original sound track. Dubbing process is also used to give a more
pleasing voice (professional singers) to the actors who perform a
song on camera. If you want to be a dubbing or voice over artist,
these tips will be helpful for you.

1. 1.Work hard on your voice, learn different sounds and voice

modulation. If you have a versatile voice, you can get a part as
a dubbing artist.

2. You must be able to do various characters ranging from

different age groups, sex and animals. And to do that you
2. need a lot of practice and patience.

3. Work on acquiring a good command over that language you

want to work with (Tamil. Telugu, English, Hindi and so on)

3. 4. Work more on improving your pronunciation and clarity of

speech.

Manoj Bajpayee | 50
LESSON 14

LESSON 1
DUBBING

5. 5. You must acquire the skills of lip sync, dialogue delivery,

excellent timing in voice process.

6. Most important tip to be a dubbing artist is to learn how to

put emotions in the dialogue delivery. How to use the exact
tone and pause and breathing movement in order to
synchronize with the original soundtrack and visuals.

7. Apart from technical expertise you should observe more

people and their performances and their style of lip syncing.
Watch and listen to more iconic movies and TV serials of that
language you want to work with.

Your voice is the precious asset for you especially if you want a
career in voice acting. Always aim to make it better so that you
can work opportunities from different areas of the film industry.

Manoj Bajpayee | 51
LESSON 14

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 52
 15

LESSON 15

KEEPING IN
TOUCH WITH
REALITY

Manoj Bajpayee | 53
LESSON 15

LESSON 1
KEEPING IN
TOUCH WITH
REALITY

As Al Pacino says, “I always tell the truth. Even when I lie.”

Acting is the most real lie you can find out there.

As an actor, it’s essential to tell the truth of your character. To

bring out the authenticity of your character, stay in touch with
your reality. If you can’t tell the truth about yourself, you can’t
tell it about others. It’s crucial to stay in touch with reality to
keep the actor alive. The more grounded you are, the more real
you are with your emotion, the better actor you can be. Don’t
forget where you come from, for it will take you a long way. You
might not like your reality. Accept it anyway. Don’t try to put fake
filters on to modify the truth. The world you see through a black
screen is the closest to reality, but it’s not real. People you see
every day but ignore are real.

Encountering unfiltered, unpolished, authentic people can help

you differentiate between what’s real and what’s pretending to
be real. Talk to them. Don’t let your ego come in the way of your
dream of becoming an actor. As an actor, it’s your job to live a
fictional character’s life so well that it starts resembling reality.
How would you do that if you are not in touch with your reality?

Manoj Bajpayee | 54
LESSON 15

LESSON 1
KEEPING IN
TOUCH WITH
REALITY

Once you start living in a world of fake compliments and forced

smiles, it becomes difficult to find what’s real? That’s why your
search for reality and authenticity must never stop. Be real. Do
real. Get real. Please don’t spend your time watching someone
climbing a mountain top and be excited about it. Go out there and
do it yourself. Stop living someone else’s reality. If something
inspires you, excites you, do it yourself. Talking to a stranger is
more real than watching a stranger talking about a make-believe
topic. Learn about people they make films about, not people who
are making those films. If you are real and honest, you will reach
there someday, but till then, stay in touch with reality.

Manoj Bajpayee | 55
 LESSON 1
LESSON 15

ASSIGNMENT
Talk to a few strangers. For instance, a street vendor or a tea
seller, or any stranger that you find even a tiny bit interesting. Be
real with them to understand their reality. This exercise will make
you realize the vastness of human characters.

Assignment for observation

Go to a roadside tea shop and do nothing. Observe everyone and
everything. Be there at the moment. Don’t comment, don’t judge.
Just observe and write your experience. It is important NOT to
let your mind wander and deviate from the task at hand.

Manoj Bajpayee | 56
LESSON 15

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 57
 16

LESSON 16

DEALING WITH
CRITICISM

Manoj Bajpayee | 58
LESSON 16

LESSON 1
DEALING WITH
CRITICISM

News flash! Anyone who is doing something gets criticized by

fellow human beings.

It is human nature to give their unsolicited opinion about

everyone and everything.

Now they have social media and free internet, which makes their
job easy.

Because criticizing is the easiest thing to do, the challenging part

is being on the receiving end.

Even Manoj Bajpayee has to deal with it from time to time, that
too, for his acting skills!

In this chapter, he teaches about how to deal with criticism.

The thumb rule for dealing with criticism is – “If they don’t know
you personally, don’t take it personally.”

It’s easier said than done. One hateful comment from an online
troll or the last person in the audience can make you doubt your
whole existence.

So, before entering into the world of show biz, you must learn to
deal with criticism.

Manoj Bajpayee | 59
LESSON 16

LESSON 1
DEALING WITH
CRITICISM

First, take your critic’s words with an open mind and if there is even
a tiny bit of truth in that, use it for your personal growth.
This exercise not only encourages humility but it also makes you
more honest towards your craft.

Avoid being too self-critical, sensitive, or too annoyed with your

critic. It will hinder your growth as an actor.

Don’t be too hard on yourself because you are not what they are
saying.

If you are walking in a park and someone mocks the way you walk,
it says more about the person than it does about you.
Don’t get ready with a ‘befitting reply’. The only way to change your
critic’s opinion is by changing you.

If their criticism is genuine, change yourself, and it will change them.

If it is not valid, don’t waste your energy on them. It’s not worth it.

Manoj Bajpayee | 60
LESSON 16

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 61
 17

LESSON 17

PERSEVERANCE

Manoj Bajpayee | 62
LESSON 17

LESSON 1
PERSEVERANCE

The acting industry can be a ruthless place for many. It could be

unwelcoming, forgetful, and sometimes it can put you in the
waiting room for years.

But if you have perseverance, you can achieve your goals. Not
immediately, but eventually.

What is perseverance?
Perseverance or persistence is a character trait found in every
successful person.

As the great Muhammad Ali once said, “I hated every minute of

training, but I said to myself, ‘Don’t quit, suffer now, and live the
rest of your life as a champion.”

Perseverance keeps you going. No matter how tough the

situation gets, if you know that giving up is not an option,
success will be the only reward.

Perseverance plays a less-talked-about-but-a-major-role in

every success story.

Manoj Bajpayee believes that you can achieve anything in life if

you have perseverance because you know you are not a quitter.
In the lack of perseverance, talent gets wasted, skills go
unnoticed, and failure becomes a reality.

To achieve your goals as an actor, don’t be lazy with your

dreams. Give all you have and a little extra to the craft you love.

Manoj Bajpayee | 63
LESSON 17

LESSON 1
PERSEVERANCE

Practice every day, and every day do better than yesterday.

By practicing, you will be ready for the day when an ample
opportunity knocks on your door.

Till then, take whatever comes in your way and make it big.
Remember, perseverance is the key.

By now, you must have learned one thing – nothing good comes
easy.

Keep learning, keep growing, keep evolving. Surround yourself

with people who share the same goal and enthusiasm.

If your dream is to become a big star, start putting massive

efforts into it.

Don’t waste time daydreaming or just thinking about that ‘big

plan’.

Do things that will bring you closer to your goal.

Join theatre groups to continue acting. Join workshops to hone

your skills. Practice at home, in front of the mirror, or in front of
your friend and family.

Commit yourself fully towards your goal because success is a

battle that you can’t win half-heartedly.

Manoj Bajpayee | 64
LESSON 17

LESSON 1
ASSIGNMENT
Pick your favorite monologue or dialogue or any scene from your
favorite movie and practice it till it becomes yours.

Manoj Bajpayee | 65
LESSON 17

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 66
 18

LESSON 18

PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
RELATIONSHIP

Manoj Bajpayee | 67
LESSON 18

LESSON 1
PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
RELATIONSHIP

Building meaningful relationships makes life easier.

If you have good friends, supporting family, and a partner you

can count on, more than 50% of your life problems are solved
already.

In this chapter, Manoj Bajpayee talks about why relationships

matter.

In personal life and professional life, building and maintaining

healthy relationships helps you grow as a human and an actor.
While going through a dark phase of his life, Manoj Bajpayee
leaned on his friends and family. Their support and kindness
made his life more comfortable.

So, what does it take? He says, communication and staying in

touch.

Don’t run too fast in your life that you leave friends and family
behind.

They will always be there for you without you asking them. Let go
of the ego. It does more harm than good. Call, text, visit. Keep the
relationship alive.

We humans need other human beings to survive. We might think

that we don’t need anyone, but we do. If you want to grow in any
profession, help others in developing.

Manoj Bajpayee | 68
LESSON 18

LESSON 1
PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
RELATIONSHIP

If you want to build a strong professional relationship, take the

initiative.

Reach out to people whose work you admire. Communicate

professionally and clearly that they are doing a good job. Do
mention what you like about them.

And when you are communicating, do it with respect.

Instead of feeling jealous of someone’s success, celebrate it. Be
the one who claps louder when something good happens to
someone. In the same way, you’d want people to clap for you
when you achieve something in life.

If you want to build a professional relationship that will get things

done, don’t hesitate to reach out. Collaboration for mutual
benefits is a good thing to do.

If you are good at acting and someone is good at writing, reach out
to them to create something beneficial for both of you.

Rely on humans more than technology. Invest in relationships,

invest in people. It always works.

Manoj Bajpayee | 69
LESSON 18

LESSON 1
ASSIGNMENT
Find ten people you wouldn’t mind partnering. Write to them. Tell
them why you want to work with them. Appreciate their talent.
And keep trying until you hear from them and then take it to the
next level.

Manoj Bajpayee | 70
LESSON 18

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 71
SHASHANK KHAITAN

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 72
SHASHANK KHAITAN

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 73
SHASHANK KHAITAN

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 74
SHASHANK KHAITAN

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 75
SHASHANK KHAITAN

NOTES

Manoj Bajpayee | 76
 Manoj
WORKBOOK

Bajpayee
TEACHES ACTING

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Manoj Bajpayee | 77