Manoj Bajpayee and Anurag Kashyap have a long history, but from 2000 to 2011, they didn't collaborate.
In a recent interview, Manoj revealed the reason behind this gap. "There was a misunderstanding that we never discussed. It became exaggerated on social media, leading to embarrassment. I felt he wasn't making films suited for me, and he thought my career was declining. So, we both enjoyed our lives separately; he didn't need me, and I didn't need him," said Manoj.
Their collaboration began in 1998 with Ram Gopal Varma's cult thriller Satya, where Anurag served as a writer and Manoj portrayed the iconic role of Bhiku Mhatre. The success of Satya led to another collaboration the following year with Shool, another action crime drama directed by Ram Gopal Varma.
However, there was an 11-year gap before they teamed up again for Anurag's 2012 crime epic Gangs of Wasseypur, where Manoj delivered a memorable performance as Sardar Khan. Since then, they haven't worked together, pursuing their separate paths once more.
Manoj's upcoming projects include the rustic action drama "Bhaiyya Ji," reuniting him with director Apoorv Singh Karki. He's also starring in "Despatch" and "The Fable."
