I try to live in reality and make character representative of masses: Manoj Bajpayee

Panaji: National award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee on Monday said that he always tries to live in reality and make the character a representative of the masses.

Speaking at an 'In-conversation session’ on the ‘Creating Cult Icons: India’s own James Bond with the family man’, held on the sidelines of the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the actor also said that he never tries to make the character larger than life.

Manoj said life of an Indian middle class is a comedy and it is the inspiration and reference for all his characters.

"I didn’t need to search Srikant Tiwari, my character in The Family Man series anywhere else. I got it within me, in my family, in my surrounding and everywhere," the actor said.

''The Family Man is a great story of a middle-class Indian guy, who is trying to find a balance between a demanding job and a demanding family. When Raj and DK (Krishna D K) came to me with the synopsis, I was sold out to it," he said.

The 52-year-old actor said he did not have to go to observe Srikant Tiwari. He said he was from a middle-class family and he did not require to draw a reference.

''I have to look within myself and find Srikant Tiwari. I have to look at my father's life, mother's life or life of my neighbour. Srikant Tiwari is everywhere,'' he said.

He said though he was influenced by many stalwarts but ultimately realised that it was his own experience which would pull him off.

He said initially he wanted to say no to the show. (UNI)