How Manoj Bajpayee got the role of Sardar Khan in Gangs Of Wasseypur by Anurag Kashyap?

Manoj Bajpayee as Sardar Khan in Gangs of Wasseypur | photo : youtube

Manoj Bajpayee is one of the finest actors of Indian cinema and his role as Sardar Khan in cult Bollywood film, Gangs Of Wasseypur is unforgettable. His dialogue delivery and justice to character showed what a true acting is. But how did this fine actor landed in the role of Sardar Khan? Here is the story.

Manoj had established himself as a finest actor of Bollywood before Gangs Of Wasseypur happened. He got much critical appreciation and popularity for his roles in Satya, Shool, Veer-Zara, Aks and Pinjar, but the failure of most films at box office also made filmmakers not to cast this fine actor.

At that time, Manoj remembered a thing about legendary Anupam Kher and how he still used to call the filmmakers and ask for work. Manoj also started calling directors after seeing their films to appreciate their work and also ask for any work opportunities. 

In 2009, Manoj saw the film Dev D directed by Anurag Kashyap. It took him a little time to call Anurag Kashyap because the two hasn’t talked in past 10-11 years because of some misunderstanding between them. The had worked together in Shool but didn’t talk in past a decade. Anyways, Bajpayee called Anurag and just appreciated his work on in Dev-D, he couldn’t ask for work from him.

A year later, Manoj Bajpayee’s Rajninit released and one night around 10 o’clock, Manoj received a call from Anurag Kashayp and he asked Manoj if he would like to work with him as he has a new script. Manoj met Anurag the very same night in his office and he narrated the whole script over some drinks. The silence between them was broken and they worked together in Gangs Of Wasseypur.

Manoj shared the story in an interview with TheLallantop. He didn’t mention if the scrip that Anurag narrated him was Gangs Of Wasseypur but it happened in 2010-11 and Gangs Of Wasseypur was released in 2012, so you can guess which script it would have been.

Watch Gangs Of Wasseypur full movie.