Manoj Bajpayee opened up about the difficult state of independent films in the country and said that currently ‘we are the lowest’. That actor also reflected on the importance of independent films in the growth of Indian cinema.
In a conversation with Sudhir Srinivasan, the Executive Editor (Entertainment) of The New Indian Express, at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2024, Manoj said, “For independent cinema, it was always difficult, however, things were going well for some time in between. But now we are at the lowest. Earlier, OTT platforms would support independent films but now even these platforms don’t want diverse stories and voices. We are living in a time of uncertainty and extreme conflict in the world. Everybody is against everybody. And industry will not be untouched by all of that as well.”
Despite all of that, Manoj stated that independent cinema will rise again. “It is the only kind of genre that is staying true to the spirit of cinema. Commercial cinema has always been doing well and had the audiences. But what we need now is to mentor independent films and that will define the growth of Indian cinema. Without that, cinema will only be a business.”
Manoj has been collaborating with independent filmmakers with distinct voices for the past few years, acting in films like Aligarh (2015), Bhonsle (2018), Gali Guleiyan (2017), and Joram (2023). He will also be seen next in Kanu Behl’s Despatch.
