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Manoj Bajpayee Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth23 April 1969

Age56 Years

BirthplaceBelwa Village, Narkatiaganj, West Champaran, Bihar

ProfessionActor, Producer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseShabana Raza (Neha)

FamilyDaughter: born 2011; Parents: Radhakant Bajpai (father, deceased 2021), Geeta Bajpayee (mother, deceased 2022)

Manoj Bajpayee Biography

Manoj Bajpayee is an acclaimed Indian actor and producer from Bihar, known for intense character work across film, television and web. A National Award and

Early life and background

Manoj Bajpayee was born on 23 April 1969 in Belwa village, Narkatiaganj, in West Champaran, Bihar. Raised in a large family, he attended a local hut school before moving on to St. Stanislaus Mission Middle School and Khrist Raja High School in Bettiah. For higher secondary studies he went to Maharani Janaki Kunwar College in Bettiah and later relocated to Delhi, where he earned a BA (History Hons) from Ramjas College. He also enrolled in an MA in Pali at Ramjas College but did not complete the program.

From an early age Bajpayee was active in performance: he competed in doha and poetry contests during school and joined college dramatic activities. He trained with the Sambhav Theatre Group in Delhi and later studied under Barry John, who became an important mentor. Through theatre work he toured and performed in plays ranging from Shakespeare to contemporary Indian theatre, and he was part of a theatre collective, The Act One, with other Delhi artists.

Career

Bajpayee began his onscreen career in television in the early 1990s. His first credited TV appearance was in the Doordarshan serial Shikast (1993). He moved to films with a small role in Bandit Queen (1994) and steadily built a reputation for intense, character-driven performances.

A breakthrough came with his portrayal of Bhiku Mhatre in Satya, a role that brought him national attention and his first National Film Award. Over the years he has appeared in a wide variety of films across languages, including notable Hindi titles such as Shool, Aks, LOC: Kargil, Raajneeti, Gangs of Wasseypur and Bhonsle. His work also includes roles in Telugu and Tamil cinema, and he embraced digital formats with the popular Hindi web series The Family Man, in which he played Srikant Tiwari.

Bajpayee’s filmography spans leading and supporting roles, and he is known for preparing deeply for his characters. He has taken physically demanding parts, including stunts performed in Aks. His career has seen highs and lows: after a series of successful films in the late 1990s and early 2000s he experienced a period of box-office setbacks in the mid-2000s, but he continued to earn critical acclaim for his screen work.

Awards and recognition

Manoj Bajpayee’s work has been recognized with multiple awards. He is a multi-time National Film Award winner, honored for performances in Satya, Pinjar and Bhonsle, among other distinctions. He received the Padma Shri in 2019 for his contribution to the arts. His performances have also been acknowledged by Filmfare, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Filmfare OTT Awards and various festival juries, reflecting both mainstream and festival recognition.

Public profile

Bajpayee is an Indian national whose hometown is listed as Champaran, Bihar. He is known for a modest, craft-focused public persona shaped by his theatre roots and long career in cinema and streaming series. He has been open about the struggles he faced early in his career, including financial hardship while training and being turned down by the National School of Drama on multiple attempts before later working with the institution.

Personal life

Manoj Bajpayee married Shabana Raza, also known as Neha, in April 2006 after a long relationship. The couple has a daughter, born in 2011. Bajpayee’s parents were Radhakant Bajpai and Geeta Bajpayee; both passed away in 2021 and 2022 respectively. He comes from a family with siblings active in varied professions.

Latest updates

In recent years Bajpayee’s career has included acclaimed digital work as well as continued film roles. His portrayal in the web series The Family Man brought additional attention and awards in the OTT space. He remains an active presence in Indian cinema, continuing to earn critical honors and festival awards for his performances.
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Recent Work

The Family Man

Hindi web series in which Bajpayee plays Srikant Tiwari

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Breakthrough role as Bhiku Mhatre in Satya
  2. Multiple National Film Awards including Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor
  3. Recipient of the Padma Shri (2019)
  4. Acclaimed lead in web series The Family Man
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Manoj Bajpayee born?

23 April 1969

What is Manoj Bajpayee known for?

Actor, Producer

What is Manoj Bajpayee’s marital status?

Married

Who is Manoj Bajpayee married to?

Shabana Raza (Neha)