Manoj Bajpayee has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding comedian Samay Raina’s show ‘India’s Got Latent 2’, which sparked debate after a segment involving humour on immigrants. The actor shared his thoughts during promotions for his upcoming film ‘Last Man in Tower’.
Manoj Bajpayee on the Samay Raina Controversy
When asked by IANS about the incident on the show, where Samay Raina engaged in banter with Sharon Verma, with the two mocking each other’s roots, Manoj said he wasn’t bothered as long as the intent was harmless. He told IANS, “If it is all in jest, I actually don’t mind it. We should learn to laugh at ourselves and laugh together, laugh at each other and still not be hurt and offended. So, this is what we should learn. We should have humour about ourselves, but at the same time we should have respect, not only for ourselves but also for the person that you are sitting with and where that person comes from. It’s very very important. If two people are very easy with each other, they always laugh at each other.”
Manoj Bajpayee recalls the stereotype he faced during his struggling days
Manoj Bajpayee then recounted a personal experience from his early days in Delhi, when he was harshly told off by a bus driver. He said, “When I was in Delhi, I was 18, and I was trying to get into a bus from the front door because this was my first time. So, I didn’t know the rules of the city. So, the driver looked at me and shouted, ‘Aye Bihari board from the back gate’. So, he didn’t know that I was from Bihar, but actually I’m from Bihar. So, for him, every person who was doing that kind of a foolish mistake was from Bihar. I didn’t mind it because first, he was right that I was from Bihar. Second, I was not wrong because I was new to the city and I was completely unfamiliar. But when I made friends with people from different states, we used to laugh at each other.”He added, “We never got offended or hurt. But yes, there is a problem if somebody coming from somewhere becomes a problem for you or becomes a problem for the community. Then there is a problem. Till then it’s, we should be able to laugh at each other, laugh at ourselves. That’s a sign of a very healthy society.”
Manoj Bajpayee’s upcoming work
On the work front, Manoj Bajpayee will next feature in ‘Last Man In Tower’, directed by Ben Rakhi. The film also features Boman Irani and Divya Dutta and is set to release on September 11, 2026.