‘Men don’t cry is a lie’: Jaideep Ahlawat tears up while calling Manoj Bajpayee a ‘chalta-phirta institute’

‘Men don’t cry is a lie’: Jaideep Ahlawat tears up while calling Manoj Bajpayee a ‘chalta-phirta institute’

Manoj Bajpayee and Jaideep Ahlawat turned a promotional interview into headline-worthy entertainment, mixing sharp humour with genuine emotion as they spoke about their long-standing bond and their upcoming on-screen clash in The Family Man 3. The two actors, known for leading two of India’s most acclaimed streaming shows, will finally share intense screen time as Bajpayee’s Srikant Tiwari confronts Ahlawat’s menacing drug lord Rukma.

Their dynamic off-screen, however, is the opposite of their characters. Bajpayee and Jaideep have known each other for more than a decade, beginning with Bedabrata Pain’s Chittagong in 2012, followed by their work in Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur. That collaboration created a deep mutual respect that continues to shape how they view each other’s craft. Despite playing adversaries and inhabiting opposite ends of cinematic worlds, their personal rapport is built on admiration, shared learning, and an easy, unfiltered sense of humour.

That humour exploded during a conversation with SCREEN when the cast and crew were asked which Manoj Bajpayee film they would recommend to “someone who has been living under a rock for 25 years.” Before anyone else could respond, Jaideep took over the moment with a dramatic outburst that instantly went viral. “Main toh maarunga pakad ke! Why would I recommend? Tum jeene layak nahi ho be****d, maro!” he declared, leaving Bajpayee and the entire room gasping and laughing at the same time. As the laughter continued, he pushed the joke even further: “I would recommend: Die! I like the way you die, bro!” The panel unanimously labelled it the day’s biggest mic-drop moment.

Also Read: When Esha Deol recalled meeting dad Dharmendra’s first wife Prakash Kaur for the first time, “I touched her feet, she left me after…”

But the interview wasn’t all irreverence. Minutes before this, Jaideep had spoken with visible emotion about what Manoj means to him. Calling Bajpayee a “chalta-phirta institute,” he said, “Even the little memories I have from Chittagong are monumental. His speeches in Shool (1999) are still used in acting training. Generations have learnt from his craft.” His voice cracked as he added, “Seeing him then and working with him now… it’s a huge journey for me.”

Manoj listened quietly through the tribute before breaking into a smile, placing a hand on Jaideep’s shoulder. Their on-screen battle in The Family Man 3 may be fierce, but their off-screen bond remains anchored in respect, history and a shared love for the craft.