The book written by Piyush Pandey tells the complete story of Manoj Bajpayee's journey from the plays in Delhi's play to the film world of Mumbai, coming from the Champaran district of Bihar.

With the help of various news portals, Manoj Bajpayee's blog, YouTube, interviews with people familiar with Manoj, and various magazines, writer Piyush Pandey has painstakingly written Manoj Bajpayee: The Definitive Biography, referring to the sources. The book includes a reference list at the end.

The cover image of the book showcases the shine on Manoj's face, the same shine that we see in his performances.

In the preface, the author mentions being greatly influenced by the characters portrayed by Manoj in the film 'Satya' during his youth. The author also mentions that the reason for writing Manoj's journey is not just his incredible acting but his journey of becoming an actor. The author wishes that through this book, written with Manoj's collaboration, the correct information about Manoj reaches people as there are many misleading news about him on the internet. According to the author, the story of Manoj Bajpayee's struggles can inspire millions of young people.

From the introduction of the book, you will get to know about Manoj's big-hearted nature. The author has provided detailed information about Manoj's birthplace and the history of his family, which is also important to know. At the beginning of each chapter, the way Manoj's words have been given prominence gives the impression that Manoj is also closely connected to the readers of the book.

Further in the book, you will read about the dedication of Manoj towards his work. Here you also come to know that actor Manoj Bajpayee's name was chosen as Manoj Kumar. The words spoken by Manoj in the interview given to Nilesh Mishra are worth reading, and they have been successful in explaining the author's attachment to his village.

While reading "Ekting ka Bhoot Poot ka Paan Karte Hue" (Paying homage to the ancestor of acting), a smile also appears on the faces of the readers. Manoj's statement about Delhi in "Darling Delhi" is quite interesting. There are many misconceptions about Manoj's story of coming to Delhi, and an effort has been made to correct them. Readers will start feeling lost in the book while reaching page number 35.

When the line "Ya Kahen Har Gaon Kabhi Na Kabhi Shahar Banta Hai Lekin Shahar Kab Gaon Ki Taraf Lautta Hai" (Sometimes every village becomes a city, but when does a city return to the village) concludes Manoj's journey, it marks the beginning of his new journey. As readers read about Manoj's admission failure in NSD (National School of Drama) in "NSD Ka Khwab Pale Delhi Pahuche", they remain engrossed in the stories tied to the book. The story progresses with tales of Manoj's first job.

For artistic people, Delhi is a fortress of learning, and we get this message while reading the book. Through these words of Vinay Kumar, we can understand how eager Manoj Bajpayee was to learn: "One day I saw that there was a light drizzle in the morning. But in the field, a boy wearing a lungi was learning the most energetic dance. I never forget this image of discipline and dedication."

"The book highlights that young individuals with an interest in reading and acting can learn a lot. It also provides insights into the personal relationships among Bollywood stalwarts. Reading about the dynamics between Manoj Bajpayee and Ram Gopal Varma teaches an important lesson, which is also the most attractive part of the book. The book also attempts to convey the message that nepotism is not everything in Bollywood. There is also space for creative individuals who work hard.

The author has beautifully depicted Manoj's connections from various corners of Delhi. In the chapter 'Darling Delhi: Act One,' the book showcases an incident of a set falling during a play, demonstrating Manoj's talent. This chapter also sheds light on the importance of the play 'Netua' in Manoj's life. While reading the book, you will discover how immediate performances during acting serve as a showcase for Manoj Bajpayee's phenomenal acting skills.

The author also mentions a letter written by Manoj to his father, which sends a message to parents who impose their own wishes on their children to let them do what they want. As you progress through the book, through the words written by Gajraj Rao to Manoj, you will understand the potential that young Manoj possessed. Gajraj mentions that sometimes he would get lost watching Manoj perform on stage.

The book also handles Manoj's love stories without any pretense. It is commendable of the author to portray them honestly. Chapter 18, 'A Disheartening Decade,' shows the disheartening phase in Manoj's life that perhaps every artist experiences at least once. It also briefly talks about Manoj's film 'Hanan,' which may be unknown to many. The book also mentions people who abandoned Manoj during tough times but returned during his successful phase, beautifully capturing their stories.

The author also writes about the influence of Manoj's mother in his life, which can be understood from one line she said, 'Getting awards is a good thing, but never consider anyone a fool who hasn't achieved success.' The book also delves into Manoj and Shabana's love story without any embellishments. It even discusses Manoj's film 'Hanan,' which people might not be aware of. The author has done a great job of beautifully capturing those who came back to Manoj's life during his difficult times.

The author briefly mentions the relationship between Manoj Bajpayee and Shahrukh Khan in the book, but it takes several pages before discussing their relationship. However, this slight omission can be forgiven.

As the book approaches its final pages, it clearly states that Manoj never aspired to be a star but always wanted to be an artist, and he achieved that goal.

The story of the making of the film '1971' is described in great detail by the author. As you continue reading the book, you will also get a glimpse into Manoj's perspective on the need for publicity for films over time.

The recent films 'Jay Bhim' and 'Jhund,' which are being hailed as agents of social change, are essential to read about in pages 180 and 181. This information alone makes the book worth buying.

The author also takes on the role of a reviewer in his book when writing about the film 'Aligarh.'

Perhaps the author rushed a bit in writing about Manoj's recent years. As much time as he devoted to depicting Manoj's struggling days, he should have also given equal attention to depicting his successful days.

In the last chapter of the book, there is a line that says, "While he may not be a superstar of 100 crore films, every hero of such films envies him and wishes they could match his acting skills." This line speaks volumes about Manoj Bajpayee's acting prowess.

Understanding and writing about a person requires a lot of effort, and the author has successfully brought Manoj Bajpayee's story to us. This book serves as a good example of how a biography should be written. Those who have the determination to achieve something can buy and read this book.

@himanshu28may

Himanshu Joshi