Manoj Bajpayee SHUTS Down Rumours Of Being First Choice For Rang De Basanti: 'Matlab Kuch Bhi'

News18

2 days ago

Manoj Bajpayee shuts down rumours that he was the original choice for Rang De Basanti, reacting with humour to screenwriter Kamlesh Pandey's recent viral claim.
Manoj Bajpayee has finally responded to the viral claim that he was the original pick for the iconic role Aamir Khan played in Rang De Basanti—and he did so with a healthy dose of sarcasm and humour.
The chatter started after screenwriter Kamlesh Pandey, who co-wrote Rang De Basanti, said in an interview with Ravya Sarda that Manoj had signed on for the role before Aamir came into the picture. Kamlesh shared, 'We had been roaming around with the script of the film for 6 years, and no one was ready to make that film. We had signed Manoj for the role that Aamir played finally. We thought we would make a small film; we didn't have a big budget. The moment Aamir heard the script, he told us that he wanted to do the film, and he even got AR Rahman to come on the project. UTV, who had rejected the film twice in the past, immediately said yes to it."
The quote quickly sparked a flurry of headlines suggesting that Manoj Bajpayee had nearly replaced Aamir in what would become a modern classic. But the Family Man star was quick to shut the door on this version of events.
On Thursday, Bajpayee reposted one such report on X (formerly Twitter), simply writing: 'Matlab kuch bhi 😂." A second post followed, with the actor adding: 'And who is the producer who said this? Naam to bata!! SM pe itne khali lota le ke baithe hai." His blunt response not only dismissed the rumours but also poked fun at how quickly misinformation spreads online.
Matlab kuch bhi 😄 https://t.co/RIUjPRitRM — manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) June 26, 2025
Released in 2006, Rang De Basanti went on to become one of the most influential films of the decade, blending youth angst, patriotism, and social commentary in a gripping narrative. Aamir Khan's role as DJ remains one of the most celebrated performances of his career.
Meanwhile, Manoj Bajpayee is preparing for his much-awaited return as Srikant Tiwari in The Family Man Season 3. Earlier this week, Prime Video confirmed the new season with an Instagram post that read: 'All eyes on our family men #TheFamilyManOnPrime, New Season, Coming Soon." The poster tagged returning cast members including Priyamani, Sharib Hashmi, and the show's creators Raj & DK.
Also tagged were actors like Sundeep Kishan, Shreya Dhanwantary, Jugal Hansraj, Darshan Kumar, Dalip Tahil, Seema Biswas, Vipin Kumar Sharma, and Harman Singha. Fans were especially thrilled to see Gul Panag—who appeared in Season 1—return to the ensemble.
Though a release date hasn't been confirmed yet, the buzz surrounding The Family Man Season 3 is already building. And if Manoj's recent social media responses are any indication, he's not just returning to action—he's doing it with sharp wit fully intact.
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