When Manoj Bajpayee warned Sushant Singh Rajput about industry politics: 'Keep thick skin nahi toh yeh jaan maar denge tumhari'

Today marks the birth anniversary of Sushant Singh Rajput. In a throwback moment, veteran actor Manoj Bajpayee shared moving insights into their deep bond. Recalling their time on the sets of 'Sonchiriya' in an interview, Bajpayee revealed how he once warned the young star to develop a "thick skin" to survive the cutthroat politics of Bollywood. From discussing quantum physics to sharing meals, Bajpayee’s reflections paint a picture of a brilliant, sensitive mind that was far more than just a movie star.

Manoj Bajpayee on lessons learned from rejection

Having faced relentless rejection himself, Manoj Bajpayee understood the cost of chasing cinema dreams. Long before his acclaim in ‘Satya’ and ‘Bandit Queen’, he was turned away multiple times by the National School of Drama. According to him, those early disappointments shaped his resilience. That hard-earned lesson, Manoj said, was something he genuinely wanted Sushant to internalise as he navigated the unpredictable world of films.

Manoj Bajpaye defends Sushant Singh Rajput

In an interaction with Mid-Day, Bajpayee firmly rejected the narrative that painted Sushant as unstable. “Nobody knows what happened to him. All of us are only presuming and guessing things. I have worked with him, and I can say he wasn’t a mad guy,” he stated. He went on to describe Sushant as someone with a sharp intellect and wide-ranging curiosity. “He was fairly well-versed in too many things. He was a voracious reader. I found him reading all the time, both on the set and off the set.”

Sushant Singh Rajput was drawn to science and spirituality

In the same interview with Mid Day, Manoj Bajpayee also recalled how their discussions often went far beyond cinema. “He had great knowledge about quantum physics. He used to talk to me about spiritualism and compare it with quantum physics. He was a fantastic mind,” he said. Making his stance clear, Manoj refused to speculate on the actor’s death, adding, “I really don’t know what happened to him. Even the CBI is yet to come to a conclusion.”

Manoj Bajpayee on mood swings and fond memories from ‘Sonchiriya’

While acknowledging that Sushant could be moody at times, Manoj pointed out that such phases were common on the ‘Sonchiriya’ sets. “He was a moody guy, and so am I,” he remarked, noting that co-stars like Ashutosh Rana and Ranvir Shorey had similar days. One of his fondest memories was Sushant calling him just before the pandemic and saying, “Manoj bhai, I really crave the mutton you cook, so next time when you make it, please invite me over.”

Sushant’s death in June 2020 left a deep impact on Manoj. “His death news hit me so badly that I was sad for three months as if I have known him so personally and closely,” he shared, reflecting on the emotional void it created.

Manoj Bajpayee opens up about industry politics

Talking once again about industry politics, in an interview with Colors TV back in 2020, Bajpayee reiterated the advice he had given Sushant. “As far as the industry is concerned, we used to have chats about the industry and its politics. I always told him to keep thick skin, nahi toh yeh jaan maar denge tumhari.” He added that while his own years of rejection had prepared him for such realities, many others couldn’t cope. “A lot of my friends didn’t have that thick skin. They couldn’t face rejections like I did.”

Sushant Singh Rajput’s journey in films

The late Sushant Singh Rajput first became a household name with ‘Pavitra Rishta’ before successfully transitioning to films with ‘Kai Po Che’ and ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’. Massive success followed with ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’, and later performances in ‘Kedarnath’, ‘Sonchiriya’, and ‘Chhichhore’. His final release, ‘Dil Bechara’, which was posthumously released in 2020, continues to stand as a poignant reminder of his brilliance and the promise he still held.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”