Manoj Bajpai got recognition in Bollywood with Ram Gopal Varma's Satya, but says he will never go back to his mentor. "You will never see me doing a film with him (Varma) again. The wound that he has given can never be healed," said Manoj.

Varma gave Manoj a role in Satya after watching him in Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen. But the two never got along well. Manoj alleged that Varma always humiliated him during the making of Satya.

The final break came when Varma was casting for Ramu Ki Aag and met Manoj for Samba's role. But it didn't work out and the director said Manoj and he could never see eye to eye. The day after the meeting with Manoj, Varma signed Sushant Singh for Samba's role.

Now, Manoj has found a new friend in Bollywood's funny man Govinda whom he met on the sets of Money Hai To Honey Hai. The difference in their approach to acting has not affected that friendship. "He (Govinda) is an open hearted person and is always ready to give and take suggestions. We have developed a great admiration for each other," says Manoj, who plays one of the lead roles with Govinda in the comedy.

Money Hai To Honey Hai is choreographer turned director Ganesh Acharya's second outing as director. In his directorial debut Swami, he had teamed up with Manoj and Juhi Chawla.

Manoj claims he and Acharya share a special bonding. "Our relationship started from the time we worked in Swami and we have become great friends. We have great respect for each other. I like his work style and feel comfortable with him."

About the film Money Hai To Honey Hai, Manoj said it was an out and out comedy that tells the story of five losers in life who try to make it big. "I am playing Lalabhai, one of the losers, who tries to make it big but doesn't know how to go about it. The story is about how he meets all the other losers, finds a purpose in life and tries to achieve it."

Manoj's wife Neha, who had debuted with Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Kareeb and went on to act in films like Fiza and Rahul among others, has gone back to her original name Shabana Raza.

Shabana is making a comeback with Sanjay Gupta's Alibaug. Was it her decision or did Manoj inspire her? "Sanjay Gupta is a dear friend and he wanted her to be there in the film. As far as her work is concerned, she takes her own decision."

On future projects, Manoj said he is working in Gupta's Acid Factory and Anand Kumar's humorous film on sealing of commercial establishments in Delhi, titled Jugaad. The actor is also doing Prakash Jha's Rajniti, which is expected to go on the floor in January 2009.