National Award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee delved into his intense experience working on Despatch with acclaimed filmmaker Kanu Behl, known for Titli. The film, showcased at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, sees Bajpayee as Joy, a seasoned crime editor at a Mumbai tabloid who gets caught in a dangerous investigation while grappling with his fading relevance in the digital era.
“Though it has the undercurrent of a thriller, the way Kanu has treated it is quite fascinating,” Bajpayee told Variety. “People are finding the approach unique—focusing not just on events but on the darkness inside the character, which is far scarier than the external events unfolding.”
The film explores themes of organised crime, political corruption, and corporate takeovers as Joy’s professional ambitions clash with his personal life, leading to perilous consequences.
Manoj was drawn to the script and determined to work with Behl despite warnings about the director’s demanding reputation. “Everybody scared me about Kanu Behl, saying he’s a very difficult director… The more stories I heard, the more determined I became to work with him. I wanted to experience his process and see if the reputation was true or if it was a journey worth taking as an actor and a human being,” said Bajpayee.
He recounted an intense scene where his character beats up another actor in a police station. After multiple takes, the co-actor started bleeding and stormed off set. Behl followed Manoj to his van, challenging him when he said, “It’s just a film.” Behl replied, “We are not making just a film. We are making a great film.”
The actor praised Behl for pushing boundaries: “He introduces aspects of your humanity and your craft that you didn’t know existed.”
For his role, Bajpayee drew on his friendships with investigative journalists in Delhi and Mumbai. “I’ve been meeting them for years to understand the nature of their job, their conflicts, and the dichotomy they live with,” he shared.
Despatch promises to be a compelling exploration of ambition, morality, and the human psyche, with Bajpayee’s gripping performance at its core.
