Barry John- Lifetime Achievement Award at META
Barry John was awarded by the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards in a virtual event on 30 August, 2020. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors Barry John’s 30+ years in Indian theatre and cinema as a writer, director and actor.
The full ceremony can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/MahindraExcellenceInTheatreAwards/videos/307604130667699/
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Make Them Believe
Our latest Ad film for Facebook and Instagram shows the challenges of acting for film surrounded by lights, camera, sound equipment, directors, the crew, hangers-on and ladders.
Manoj Awarded Padma Shri
Critically acclaimed Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee was conferred with the ‘Padma Shri’, at the 70th Republic day, 26 January 2019.
From Bikhu Mahatre in Satya (1998), to Sardar Khan in Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), from an older gay professor in Aligarh (2015), to a scheming politician in Rajneeti (2010) actor Manoj Bajpayee has enthralled his fans with a variety of roles in his 25-year-long career in films.
Manoj arrived in Delhi in the late 80s. After getting rejected from the National School of Drama for 4 consecutive years, he met acting coach and theatre director Barry John and joined his theatre group. Impressed by Bajpayee’s acting, John hired him to assist him in his teaching.
Manoj has maintained his close association and friendship with Barry John and has been a frequent visitor to classes at the BJAS Mumbai Studio, where has spoken at length and answered students’ questions on succeeding in the difficult world of Bollywood. Manoj faithfully send birthday wishes (or attends parties) for Barry John’s birthday, and of course Barry sent his congratulations on the Padma Shri.
Manoj Bajpayee has earned his acting credentials doing theatre and is known for his acting sensibilities. He made his feature film debut with a one-minute role in Drokaal (1994), which was followed by a brief role in Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen (1994). After a few unnoticed roles, he played the gangster Bhiku Mahatre in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1998 crime drama Satya, which proved to be his breakthrough role. He received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for the film.
He will next be seen in Son Chiriya which has an ensemble cast comprising Sushant Singh Rajput, Ranveer Shorey, Ashutosh Rana, and Bhumi Pednekar among others.
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Manoj Bajpayee Visits BJAS
And Receives the Padma Shri
Manoj Bajpayee made another visit to graduating members of the BJAS Mumbai Diploma in Film Acting course in late December, 2018. As always, the students appreciated his sincere engagement with students and his honest tales of life as a struggling and then successful actor. Videos of his interaction with students are linked below.
Manoj was conferred with the ‘Padma Shri’ on the 70th Republic Day, 26 January 2019. From Bikhu Mahatre in Satya (1998), to Sardar Khan in Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), from a homosexual professor in Aligarh (2015), to a scheming politician in Rajneeti (2010), actor Manoj Bajpayee has enthralled his fans with a variety of roles in his 25-year-long career in films.
But as he explains, it wasn’t always so easy. Manoj arrived in Delhi from Bihar in the mid-eighties with the passionate desire to become an actor. However, he was rejected from the National School of Drama for 4 consecutive years. Then he met acting coach and famed theatre director Barry John and joined his Theatre Action Group. Impressed by Bajpayee’s acting, John hired him to assist him in his teaching.
Manoj Bajpayee earned his acting credentials doing theatre and is known for his acting sensibilities. He made his feature film debut with a one-minute role in Drokaal (1994), which was followed by a brief but celebrated role in Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen (1994). After a few unnoticed roles, Manoj played the gangster Bhiku Mahatre in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1998 crime drama Satya, which proved to be his breakthrough role. He received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for the film. He is next seen in Son Chiriya which has an ensemble cast comprising Sushant Singh Rajput, Ranveer Shorey, Ashutosh Rana, and Bhumi Pednekar, among others.
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Graduation Day for DFA06-11
At the end of June, Graduation Day for the six-month, full-time Diploma in Film Acting course (DFA 06-11) in Mumbai featured actor Vineet Kumar Singh. Attended by the full batch as well as the continuing students of the following batch, Vineet gave insight into the daily work and trials of actors in Mumbai. His lively talk – on acting, filming, preparing and more – was greatly appreciated.
When asked “What’s next” most of the graduating students replied, “Stay in Mumbai and get work!” More than a few wanted to continue for another six months!
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