'Mazaak mat udaao izzat do': Manoj Bajpayee speaks up for people from UP and Bihar

Manoj Bajpayee Pic/Instagram

Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee opened up at the trailer launch of his film 'Bhaiyya Ji' on how people from his state Bihar, as well as Uttar Pradesh, and "even Chhattisgarh" were treated with contempt elsewhere in the country. He spoke about how some people still have a stereotypical view of their counterparts from Bihar, whom they consider to be less intelligent. Without mincing words, he said those with a regional mindset only expose their narrowness and it shows that something is wrong with them.

Manoj was asked if the film's tagline, 'Bhaiyya nahi, Bhaiyya ji kaho', has a subtext. Pulling the media person's leg, Manoj said, "Kuch na kuch vivaad toh hona hi chaahiye, hai na (We need to have some argument or the other, don't we)? See, whenever someone tells you something negative about your background or ethnicity, it means that the problem is with the other person, not with you."

He added: "A sane person will never make negative remarks about your caste, your religion or the region where you come from."

He said the film's message is that people from UP and Bihar, too, are humans and they deserve respect. "Mazaak mat udaao izzat do, aadar do, people from UP, Bihar, and even Chhattisgarh are addressed as 'Bhaiyya' jokingly, which should not be the case," the actor noted.

'Bhaiyya Ji' is Manoj's 100th film, and is produced by Vinod Bhanushali, Kamlesh Bhanushali, Samiksha Oswal, Shael Oswal, Shabana Raza Bajpayee, and Vikram Khakhar. Apoorv Singh Karki has directed it, while Deepak Kingrani has written it.

Manoj also shared that he considers himself very lucky to have reached where he is today. "I never thought I'd do more than 10 films but life has been kind that I'm here with my 100th film. It's not like that I alone do the hard work, all artists hustle hard every day but it's because of God and the audience that I have reached this place".

As per a statement, 'Bhaiyya Ji' is packed with "intense action, gripping revenge drama and heartfelt emotions of family bonding. The release date for the project has been set as May 24.

(With inputs from Agencies)