You will be in for an unforgettable ride!
Manoj Bajpayee is an actor of great calibre and talent. Within Bollywood, he shines with an unmatched glean.
The star has been a part of many great films, including Kanu Behl’s Despatch (2024).
In the film, Manoj plays Joy Bagh, an experienced but jaded crime journalist who works for the titular newspaper.
A digital pathway could spell irrelevance for Joy as he tries to scoop a juicy story for the newspaper.
He stumbles across a scam in his pursuit and travels through the dangerous alleys of the underworld, threatening his life and scrutinising his personal matters.
In our exclusive chat, you can also hear Manoj and director Kanu talk about Despatch and what made ZEE5 Global the perfect platform for the film.
Play each audio clip and you can hear the actual interview answers.
What attracted you to this project and this character (Manoj)?
Manoj tells us that Despatch is a story of a journalist and he has never explored such a character before.
An exciting role for Manoj Bajpayee who has handled many other character roles very well in the past.
He was also tremendously pleased to be working with Kanu Behl and experience his unique style of filmmaking.
What can the audience expect from this (Manoj)?
Manoj explains that his character, Joy Bagh, carried a lot of greyness and uncertainty in his characterisation.
He also confirms that he has a lot of friends and colleagues who have watched the film.
According to the feedback he received, a lot of the viewers were unsure on whether to love or hate the character, signifying Joy’s underlying unpredictability.
What made ZEE5 Global the platform for Despatch (Kanu)?
Kanu tells us that he felt ZEE5 Global was the best platform to debut his film.
He underlines that the streaming service has been adept at showing breakthrough cinema as well as blockbusters in the last decade.
The director expresses his excitement when he found out that the film was premiering on the platform.
What made you choose Manoj Bajpayee for this film (Kanu)?
Kanu tells us that while studying cinema, Manoj’s work was a source of admiration for him.
He talked about who could play the complex, layered role in this character-led movie, which makes the requirement of the performance tougher.
Kanu highlights his good fortune of signing Manoj, as he was the only one who he envisioned in the role.
He uses the phrase: “Unicorns aren’t real”.
When Manoj read the script, Kanu explains that Manoj really understood the script and as a filmmaker, he couldn’t have asked for better.
How much research did you have to do into journalism and its themes for Despatch (Manoj and Kanu)?
Kanu tells us that he researched the process and world of journalists for 18 months.
Manoj tells us that he did not need to develop the character by sitting in a journalist’s office and he has a wide circle of friends who are in this business which comforted him in terms of character development.
He also spoke about how this exposed him to the world of journalism and he did not feel that he had to go to any extreme lengths to research for his role.
Despatch is a gritty thriller filled with twists and turns.
Manoj Bajpayee’s performance is one of menace, restraint, and supremacy.
The actor outdoes himself, and the painstaking research done by the team shines through.
The words of Kanu and Manoj aptly show the passion they have for this project.
Despatch premiered on ZEE5 Global on December 13, 2024. Fans can catch the film with a subscription.
You will be in for an unforgettable ride!
Watch the trailer:
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