Manoj Bajpayee anticipates wife Shabana Raza's return to films

Manoj Bajpayee, currently engrossed in promoting "Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout," recently hinted at the possibility of his wife, actress Shabana Raza, making a comeback to the silver screen.

In a conversation with Zoom, Bajpayee expressed his eagerness to collaborate with Raza on screen and shared his excitement about her potential return to films.

"I would love to work with my wife Shabana provided the script comes from outside, and I don't have to produce it. As much as I know her, I know she has a lot of self-respect as an actor. I am equally excited to work with her in a film that will mark her comeback into films. She is equally keen on doing films again," said Bajpayee.

Additionally, Bajpayee revealed that Raza is currently evaluating scripts that are being offered to her. "So whenever that happens, she will return to the cinema," he added.

Shabana Raza, known for her roles in films like "Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet," "Fiza," and "Kareeb," among others, is poised to make a comeback after a hiatus from the industry.

In the same interview, Bajpayee reflected on his immersive approach to acting, acknowledging that he often finds himself mentally immersed in his character even during his downtime at home. "Scenes from my films keep playing on my mind while I am doing routine things at home. Even while I am talking to my daughter, I am thinking of the character I am supposed to enact the next day," he shared.

Acknowledging the challenges of balancing his personal and professional lives, Bajpayee noted, "Acting is not a ‘switch on and switch off job."

"Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout," directed by Aban Bharucha Deohans, is set to premiere on Zee5 on April 16. Bajpayee will essay the role of ACP Avinash Verma in the film, which also stars Prachi Desai, Parul Gulati, Sahil Vaid, and Vaquar Shaikh in key roles.

He is also slated to appear in Apoorv Singh Karki's "Bhaiyya Ji," scheduled to hit theaters on May 24.