‘She’s Proud Muslim, I’m Proud…’: Manoj Bajpayee Talks On His Marriage With Shabana Raza

Manoj Bajpayee said that people might be against marrying Shaban Raza, but They didn’t dare to talk about it on his face. He added that he has a bad reputation for being short temper, so people refrain from making such statements. Manoj and Shabana got married in 2006 after they first met at a party. Shabana Raza aka Neha Baipayee has worked in films like Caribbean (1998).

Manoj Bajpayee Talks openly on his marriage

Manoj exclusively talks Mojo Story’s Barkha Dutt about his marriage. When he was asked if there was any societal or family pressure to marry Shabana.He said, “Had there been any, it was not conveyed to me, it was not made obvious to me.” I am from a Brahmin family, and she is from a well-known family. But, to my surprise, no one in my family objected. Never. Until now, never.”

Manoj Bajpayee Speaks on His wife’s Religion

Manoj added that he and his wife are more spiritual than religious. “She is a proud Muslim, just like I am a proud Hindu, but we are not mutually exclusive. We are more spiritual than religious. Even If they would have talked about the religion of my wife they would never talk to me on my face Because they know that I don’t polish my words. I am very very hard at that time when someone says that.”

Manoj added that he doesn’t like it when someone talks bad about communities or religion. However, he added that he now feels uncomfortable when friends like directors Anubhav Sinha and Hansal Mehta talk about it.

In his biography Manoj Bajpayee-Kuch Paane Ki Zid, Manoj talks about the first moment he saw Shabana.He wrote that he was struck by Shabana’s modesty when he saw her at Hansal Mehta’s party. She has no makeup on her face, has oil in her hair and wears glasses.