Entertainment
Manoj Bajpayee Teases Future of 'The Family Man', Talks Physical Demands of 'Last Man in Tower'
Manoj Bajpayee, whose career spans more than three decades across acclaimed films, major projects and successful streaming shows, is set to appear as Yogesh Murthy, known as Masterji, in 'Last Man in Tower', an adaptation of Aravind Adiga's 2011 Booker Prize-winning novel. The role requires Bajpayee to portray a complex character while performing his own stunts. In an interview with Variety India, the actor discussed his understanding of Masterji, the physical challenges of filming action sequences, and provided an update on the anticipated fourth season of 'The Family Man'.
Bajpayee is widely recognized for his role as Srikant Tiwari, an intelligence officer balancing high-stakes cases with the pressures of middle-class family life, in 'The Family Man'. Following the success of the show's third season, fans have been eager for news about a fourth installment. According to Bajpayee, discussions for Season 4 are expected to start soon, with the script to be finalized before the cast begins preparation. He said, 'Talks will start happening soon. It's quite flattering that it has become such a great franchise that each and every person, be it a child or an adult, keeps asking about it. Once the conversation about the fourth season starts, the script will be finalized, and then we'll be called in to start prepping for it and give our dates.'
Discussing his role as Masterji, Bajpayee described the character as principled and unwilling to compromise on his dignity. He explained, 'Masterji is stubborn, addicted to his principles and sticks to what he thinks is right and wrong. He is an old man without a wife who doesn't want to compromise on his dignity at all, and the last person he wants to be hurt by is his son.' The character's convictions and emotional vulnerability are central to Bajpayee's portrayal as Masterji faces increasingly difficult situations.
Bajpayee also revealed that he performed all of his own scenes, including the film's climax, without a body double, though he acknowledged that such physically demanding work has become harder with age. He said, 'I feel a little scared doing all of these things now, after so many years. A cramp here, a nick there — my body doesn't feel confident doing so many things. Having said that, the manner in which it is shot, it happens with complete suddenness. He is caught in this and he doesn't know how to save himself.'
'The Family Man' Season 3 followed Srikant Tiwari as he balanced his intelligence work with personal challenges. According to its official synopsis on Amazon Prime Video, 'On a personal mission to avenge an assassination, Srikant Tiwari unravels a devious conspiracy that threatens to send India to the brink of war.' The season featured Jaideep Ahlawat as Rukma, Nimrat Kaur as Meera Eston, along with series regulars Priyamani as Suchitra Tiwari, Sharib Hashmi as JK Talpade, Shreya Dhanwanthary as Zoya, Ashlesha Thakur as Dhriti Tiwari and Vedant Sinha as Atharv Tiwari. It also included Darshan Kumaar as Major Sameer, Gul Panag as Saloni, Seema Biswas as PM Basu, and Vipin Sharma as Sambit.