Manoj Bajpai - born on 23rd April is a Hindi film actor, known for playing offbeat and unconventional roles. He first shot into fame with his breakthrough role on Ram Gopal Varma's 1997 film, Satya.

Biography
Early Life
Manoj Bajpai was born in Belwa, a small village in West Champaran,Bihar. He went to Ramjas College, Delhi University for pursuing graduation.

Career
He started his career with a tele-serial aired on Doordarshan, Swaabhimaan. The same serial also brought Tyaagi-Ashutosh Rana and Rishab-Rohit Roy into limelight.

Manoj appeared in several small roles in films like Droh Kaal (1994), and Bandit Queen (1994), before getting a big break in 1998 film Satya directed by Ram Gopal Varma. His performance as Bhiku Mhatre, won him several awards, as he portrayed the hotheaded and compassionate sides of this small-time gangster, with equal panache. Another important film where he played a dark character was Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's film Aks in 2001, for which again he won many awards.

He work was also appreciated in films like, Zubeidaa (2001), Pinjar (2003) for which won the National Film Award and Veer Zaara in 2004.

Despite being one of the most talented and critically acclaimed actors in India, Manoj Bajpai has not been able to enjoy much commercial success.

He is married to Neha, a Bollywood actress who worked in movies namely Kareeb, Fiza etc.

Awards
1998 Filmfare Award Best Actor - Critics Choice, Satya
1998 Star Screen Award Best Supporting Actor: Satya
1998 BFJA Best Actor: Shool
1999 Filmfare Award Best Actor - Critics Choice: Shool
1999 Zee Cine Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role- Male: Shool
1999 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor: Satya
2001 Star Screen Award Best Villain: Aks
2002 Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role: Road
2004 National Film Award - Special Jury Award : Pinjar

Selected Filmography
Acid Factory (2008)
90 Minutes (2007)
Dus Kahaniyan (2007)
Swami (2007)
1971 (2007)
Happy (2006)
Fareb (2005)
Bewafaa (2005}
Return To Rajapur (2005)
Inteqam: The Perfect Game (2004)
Veer-Zaara (2004)
Jaago (2004)
Hanan (2004)
LOC: Kargil (2003)
Pinjar (2003)
Road (2002)
Aks (2001)
Zubeidaa (2001)
Ghaath (2000)
Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar (2000)
Fiza (2000)
Shool (1999)
Kaun (1999)
Prem Katha (1999)
Satya (1998)
Daud: Fun on the Run (1997)
Tamanna (1997)
Dastak (1996}
Bandit Queen (1994)
Droh Kaal (1994)

Trivia
He was rejected thrice by the National School of Drama
A particular sequence in Aks required him to shoot with wolves.