Manoj & Seema Pahwa on Becoming Parents Before Actors, Struggle in the Industry & Acting Big Breaks

In this heartfelt episode of The Bombay Journey, Manoj Pahwa and Seema Pahwa open up about starting their acting careers after becoming parents, moving to Mumbai with responsibilities, risks, and unwavering belief. They talk about buying a home in Versova, navigating auditions, and building a life around their love for theatre and storytelling. Manoj reflects on leaving his business behind, auditioning for years, and spending nearly two decades being typecast as a comedian before finally receiving recognition for his intense and memorable villain roles. Seema shares her early struggles, from doing a ₹500 job to landing Hum Log-a role she initially doubted, thinking it might be a scam, before it became a major turning point in her career. Manoj also reveals why he initially rejected The Ba***ds of Bollywood and what ultimately convinced him to say yes. Seema speaks about her love for theatre, her growth as an artist, and working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Gangubai, a project that brought her widespread recognition. 00:00 Coming Up 01:19 Welcoming Manoj & Seema Pahwa | The Bombay Journey 02:15 Manoj & Seema on Their New Series Perfect Family 03:25 Talking About the Mental Health Taboo 04:08 Celebrities Who Started in Versova, Mumbai 05:43 Manoj & Seema on Their Love for Delhi 06:29 How Siddharth Worked with Seema as a Child Actor 07:28 Finally Getting Good Roles & Versatility 08:54 Audience Response to Perfect Family 09:34 Manoj Pahwa on Stereotyping in Cinema 10:31 Career Turning Point & Film Mulk 13:00 Manoj Pahwa on High Tide & Shikast 14:28 Evolution of Acting Over the Years 14:57 Seema Pahwa on Getting Gangubai Kathiawadi 16:41 Working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali 18:20 The Deleted Scene from Gangubai Kathiawadi 19:10 Reinventing Herself as an Actor 21:15 Why Manoj Chose to Be Typecast as a Comedian 22:44 Advice from Naseeruddin Shah 24:03 How Theatre Shaped Manoj & Seema 25:10 Shifting to Mumbai in 1992 26:13 Memories Around Their First Mumbai Home 27:42 Visiting Their First Home in Mumbai 28:28 Buying the First House 30:01 Seema on Supporting Manoj’s Acting Journey 30:34 Why Manoj Didn’t Choose Acting Initially 31:19 Deciding to Return to Acting 32:28 Chilling with Anubhav Sinha in Early Days 33:27 Manoj’s First Car & Bike 33:58 Seema on Her Casting in Hum Log 36:51 Seema’s First Flight Experience 38:46 Manoj on Office Office 40:11 How Pankaj Kapur & Manoj Became In-Laws 40:48 Rangshila Theatre & Meeting Kumud Mishra 41:44 Seema’s Journey into Direction 44:27 Her First Script Getting Greenlit 46:36 Working with Vikrant Massey, Konkana Sen & Param 47:28 Seema Pahwa’s Upcoming Projects 48:07 Manoj on Working with Aryan Khan 50:07 Shah Rukh Khan Visiting the Sets 50:22 Visiting Mayank Pahwa’s Play Rehearsal 51:04 Surprise Entry by Manukriti Pahwa 51:38 Manoj on Singh Is Kinng, Ready & Wanted 52:30 Signing Off Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mashableindia/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MashableIndia Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mashable.india/ Subscribe for Latest Videos: https://bit.ly/2QIlhxZ Mashable India is for superfans. We're not for the casually curious. Obsess with us as we start exploring India. (Keywords: Manoj Pahwa, Seema Pahwa, The Bombay Journey, acting career, Mumbai actors, parenting before acting, Versova, theatre, Hum Log, comedian to villain, typecasting, acting struggles, Bollywood journey, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Gangubai, auditions, breakthrough roles, Bads of Bollywood, career turning points, Indian actors, film industry insights, acting tips, Indian television, theatre passion, career risks, industry challenges, starting late in acting, life in Mumbai, family and career balance, acting dedication, actor couple stories, acting perseverance, career sacrifices, Indian cinema, iconic roles, film roles, TV roles, acting inspiration, journey to success, risk-taking in career, actor interviews, Bollywood stories, actor advice, famous Indian actors, actor parents, career milestones, life lessons from actors, acting journey in India, theatre background, early career struggles, female actors in India, male actors in India, acting breakthroughs, iconic performances, Mumbai acting scene, actor lifestyle, pursuing dreams, creative journey, mentorship in acting, actor growth stories, performing arts, career resilience, TV to films, Indian entertainment industry, actor reflections, career choices, audition experiences, personal stories of actors, film recognition, acting awards, notable)