Manoj Bajpayee on 'Gajab Raat' row: 'If creative liberty needs to be sacrificed, then so be it'

Manoj Bajpayee on 'Gajab Raat' row: 'If creative liberty needs to be sacrificed, then so be it,' as he slams CBFC advisory and online outrage over 'Ghooskhor Pandat' title

Manoj Bajpayee has hit out at the censor board’s handling of his film ‘Gajab Raat’, saying artistic freedom is being traded away because people are too ready to feel hurt. The actor shared his views on the title controversy, the online outrage that followed and the film’s success and also had a funny take on film promotions.

Manoj Bajpayee on the CBFC advisory

The controversy over the original title, ‘Ghuskhor Pandat’, pushed the Central Board of Film Certification to put out an advisory. It states that no title or release date will be considered final until the board gives its approval. When asked if this crosses a line or has always been the norm, Manoj Bajpayee said the board tends to go along with popular feeling. According to him, the mood today is that anything can upset anyone, and making decisions temporary gives the board an easy way out.In an interview with SCREEN, he said, “The CBFC is going to behave according to a few popular choices. The current popular opinion is that anyone can be offended by anything. So, the CBFC must be finding it very difficult to cater to everybody. That is why they have made things temporary. It is very convenient. And if a creative person’s needs have to be sacrificed, then so be it. If creative liberty needs to be sacrificed, then so be it, because they have to be all right in the eyes of their own people.

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Manoj Bajpayee says, 'Everybody has decided to be touchy'

Manoj Bajpayee also spoke about the backlash that built up online long before anybody had watched even a single scene of the film.He said, “Today, everybody has decided to be touchy or ready to be offended at any time. We had the entire outcry around ‘Gajab Raat’s’ title without anyone even seeing a frame of the film. I am very sure that the people who created that kind of outrage will never feel sorry for saying those things about my family or sending me threats.

But I am so happy that the film’s success is a fitting answer to everyone.”

His character in ‘Gajab Raat’

Describing the man he plays, the actor said he faces no real moral struggle. The character feels a short-lived tug of conscience and clings to it only so he can face himself in the mirror. He never claims he will turn over a new leaf the next morning, and Bajpayee said that straightforward nature is what drew him to the role.