- By Swati Singh
- Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:57 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee is gearing up for the release of Governor, which is set to hit the theatres on June 12, 2026. Ahead of its release, Bajpayee called out OTT platforms for their growing TV-like strategy. Giving an example of his hit web series The Family Man, the actor noted that they didn't 'please everyone', opposite of what OTT platforms are doing.
In a conversation with The Hindu, Manoj Bajpayee said, "I fear that OTT is going the TV way. Somewhere, people who run the OTT platforms are conscious about reaching everybody in the household. It’s like they want every woman in the house to watch their shows. The moment you think like that, you are going the TV way. The Family Man stayed true to its genre yet had unique elements. That’s why it was watched by all. We didn’t try to consciously cater to everybody. You must always look to break new ground in the OTT space."
He added, "When you explore the freedom a platform gives, the results will be wonderful. I essayed several complex characters. Most of my shows have got great views. They are OTT hits. My career proves why you shouldn’t go the conventional way. If you try to please everyone, you will get into a rut. Currently, I see this as a problem with the OTTs."
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Over the past decade, Manoj Bajpayee has successfully navigated both the theatrical and OTT landscapes, building a strong presence across formats. Having witnessed the evolution of the entertainment industry firsthand, the acclaimed actor offered insightful observations on how storytelling and audience preferences have changed, particularly in the rapidly growing OTT space.
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He said, "We should stop talking about box office returns. That’s one change I want to see in Bollywood. Only the producer should be worried about numbers. Managing money is his area of expertise and he should deal with it. Audiences and film critics must talk about the craft. And directors and actors must focus on delivering a quality movie. We must stick to our roles."
Manoj Bajpayee will portray Venkitaraman in Governor, a role he found challenging as it required understanding the historic financial crisis and Venkitaraman’s approach to handling it during a turbulent political period. "We know that the majority of the people who come to watch our film aren’t well versed in economics. The financial crisis is the backdrop of the movie, but we have tried to showcase how intense the crisis was. Without confusing viewers with too many statistics, we want to tell them how the country was on the verge of bankruptcy and how one underdog responds to the difficult situation. The idea is to educate the audience in an engaging manner," he noted.