Manoj Bajpayee, widely regarded as one of India’s most skilled actors, recently opened up about the harsh realities he faced on his journey to success. In a candid interview with entrepreneur Ritesh Agarwal for Mint, Bajpayee reflected on his early days, recounting the challenges of living in Delhi’s infamous “barsatis” and his later struggles in Mumbai, where he encountered both physical and mental hardships.

Bajpayee began his career in Delhi, a city where he spent several years honing his acting skills and teaching at the prestigious National School of Drama. His days there, however, were far from easy. Recalling his time in a barsati, a low-cost rooftop room commonly found in areas like Mukherjee Nagar, he described the experience as “hell.” “I still shudder when I think of my days in a barsati,” he said. “The only advantage was that they were cheap. But it would get extremely hot in the summers and unbearably cold in the winters. If the outside temperature was 40 degrees, it would feel like 45 inside.”

Despite the harsh conditions, Bajpayee found solace in his theatre work in Delhi, which kept him busy even without pay. “I worked 18 hours a day. I never slept hungry, thanks to my friends who would share whatever they had with me. There was always a sense of support,” he said.

The struggle, however, intensified when Bajpayee moved to Mumbai, a city that brought fresh challenges. Unlike in Delhi, Bajpayee found himself isolated and often without work. “In Mumbai, I was physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. I had nowhere to go and was left wandering from studio to studio in search of work,” he shared. “I was completely broke, and with no income, I often starved the entire day.”

Despite the hardships, Bajpayee adapted, using innovative ways to survive. He recounted how he strategically timed his visits to sets during lunch breaks, hoping to encounter familiar faces. “I would look for someone I knew, and soon it would lead to, ‘I’m going to grab a bite; you want to join?’ And I’d say, ‘Sure.’ We put a lot of thought into arranging food,” he recalled.

Bajpayee’s perseverance ultimately paid off, leading him to acclaim in the Indian film industry. He was last seen in Bhaiyya Ji and the Netflix series Killer Soup, marking yet another milestone in his storied career.