Speaking during promotional interactions for his upcoming film Last Man in Tower, the National Award-winning actor advocated for a balanced approach to humor, emphasizing that mutual comfort, healthy self-deprecation, and respect are vital in comedy.
"If It's in Jest, I Don't Mind It": Bajpayee's Take on Regional Banter
Addressing the clash between host Samay Raina and contestant-comedian Sharon Verma on the show, Bajpayee noted that roasting among peers should not automatically trigger public outrage if it stems from mutual comfort:
“If it is all in jest, I actually don't mind it. We should learn to laugh at ourselves and laugh together, laugh at each other and still not be hurt and offended.”
He further stressed the importance of drawing the line at mutual respect:
“We should have humour about ourselves, but at the same time we should have respect—not only for ourselves but also for the person that you are sitting with and where that person comes from. It's very important. If two people are very easy with each other, they always laugh at each other.”
Flashback: The 18-Year-Old in Delhi and the 'Bihari' Stereotype
Recalling his own formative years when he first arrived in New Delhi from Bihar, Bajpayee shared an incident where he was on the receiving end of casual stereotyping:
The Bus Incident: At age 18, unfamiliar with the capital's public transit norms, he attempted to board a bus through the front door. The driver yelled at him, "Aye Bihari, board from the back gate!"
Taking It in Stride: Bajpayee reflected: "He didn't know that I was actually from Bihar. For him, every person making that kind of unfamiliar mistake was a 'Bihari'. I didn't mind it because first, he was right that I was from Bihar, and second, I was new to the city. But when I made friends with people from different states, we used to laugh at each other and never got offended."
The Defining Boundary: He noted that humor crosses the line only when regional bias turns into active discrimination or targeted malice against a community.
Trade Verdict:
Manoj Bajpayee’s grounded response offers a mature take on modern internet comedy culture. By highlighting the distinction between friendly banter and malicious intent, the veteran actor emphasizes that a resilient and mature society thrives on mutual understanding rather than instant offence.
