Manoj Bajpayee, born 23 April 1969 in Belwa village, Champaran district, Bihar, is one of India's most acclaimed character actors — winner of three National Film Awards. He rose to prominence with Satya (1998) and has since starred in Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Aligarh (2015), and the Amazon Prime series The Family Man.

His Parents

Father: Radhakant Bajpayee — farmer.

Mother: Geeta Bajpayee — homemaker.

His Siblings

Manoj is the second of six children. His brothers and sisters have stayed largely out of public life.

His Wife: Shabana Raza

Shabana Raza, born 1976, is a former Bollywood actress (known professionally as Neha) who worked in films like Kareeb (1998). Manoj and Shabana married in 2006.

Their Daughter

Ava Nayla Bajpayee, born March 2011.

The Bajpayee Family Tree at a Glance

Family Origins: Belwa village, Champaran district, Bihar.

Parents: Radhakant Bajpayee (farmer); Geeta Bajpayee (homemaker).

Siblings: Manoj is one of six.

Wife: Shabana Raza (Neha) — former actress; married 2006.

Daughter: Ava Nayla Bajpayee (b. March 2011).

Manoj Bajpayee:

  • Born 23 April 1969, Belwa, Champaran, Bihar
  • Moved to Delhi at 17 to study
  • Ramjas College, Delhi University
  • National School of Drama (NSD) — applied four times before being rejected because of a controversial interview comment; trained instead with Barry John
  • Films: Bandit Queen (1994), Satya (1998, National Award), Shool (1999), Pinjar (2003, National Award), Aligarh (2015), Bhonsle (2020, National Award), The Family Man (Amazon Prime, 2019–2021)
  • Padma Shri (2019)

What the Bajpayee Family Story Teaches Us

A farmer father from a Bihari village. A homemaker mother. Six children. A son who moved to Delhi at 17 to study and was rejected by the National School of Drama four times. A wife who was once an actress in her own right. A daughter born when her father was already 41.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Bajpayee story carries the same lesson. Some careers begin from places no one expected. Champaran is a small Bihari district with no cinema tradition. Manoj is one of the few major Indian actors of his generation to emerge from there. Write down where each family member came from. The starting place is often the most surprising entry on the tree.

👉 Start building your family legacy today with Family Root App

📜 Disclaimer The family tree and biographical information provided in this article are based on publicly available sources and records. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee the completeness or authenticity of all data. This content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not aim to infringe on any individual's privacy or personal rights. If you believe any information is incorrect or wish to request edits or removal, please contact us at Info@familyrootapp.com.