: Sunday, June 6, 2021, 8:21 AM IST âAt 24, I learnt that for the French, India is Satyajit Ray,â says Manoj Bajpayee The actor admits that he got introduced to the auteur only when he started doing theatre Growing up in Bihar, Manoj Bajpayee admits that entertainment for him was mainstream Hindi cinema helmed by Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna and Shatrughan Sinha. It was only when he started doing theatre that he became aware in the midst of a Bachchan Tsunami that a different kind of indie cinema spearheaded by Satyajit Ray was also flourishing elsewhere in the country. âWhen I was 24, I went to Paris for a play. There, rehearsing with French boys and girls of my age, going out for coffee and drinks, I learnt to my surprise that for them India was Satyajit Ray,â reminisces the National Award-winning actor.