“It is important to find beauty in the ordinary.” This isn’t just a phrase for Pankaj Tripathi, it’s what he lives by in his craft. With a face that screams innocence and common-man appeal, Tripathi has become the rare actor whose greatest weapon is his ordinariness, and that’s precisely what makes him extraordinary. It’s no wonder he perfectly embodies the saying: Ek Bihari sab par bhaari.(One Bihari is above all)
With the release of his latest series ‘Criminal Justice – A Family Matter’, the actor is once again back as morally ambiguous advocate Madhav Mishra, solving another murder mystery that is set around Mumbai’s high-rise society. The way Pankaj Tripathi brings out the hidden layers from being a lawyer to a family man is very interesting to watch. While we still can’t get over Pankaj Tripathi’s brilliant performance in the courtroom drama, one particular dialogue stands out. In the show, a colleague tells Tripathi’s character that he’s often sent to negotiate with the public because of his “common-man appeal”, that he has the kind of face and demeanor that can disarm hostility and win trust.
The 48-year-old actor with his everyman-ness is his most endearing trait as he brings his desi charm to the small screen. For Tripathi, being on screen has never been just about performance, it’s about immersion. Starting from his humble beginning in Bihar and then moving to Mumbai with big dreams, the actor who started off with smaller roles to now the life of every project he picks has gradually carved out our space through hard work and perseverance.
Isn’t it a strange phenomenon?
While he might be able to tickle your funny bone with his impeccable comic timing in ‘Stree’, Pankaj Tripathi effortlessly brings back his grounded, everyman charm in ‘OMG 2’. And just when you settle into his softer side, the actor stuns again, whether as the ruthless butcher in ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ or the volatile yet oddly endearing Kaleen Bhaiya in ‘Mirzapur’. Each role showcases his incredible range, all while staying true to his authentic essence.
In ‘Stree’, Pankaj Tripathi redefined the image of a librarian we’ve carried since our school days. Someone with glasses and a deep knowledge of history and folklore. But what set him apart was the way he infused that persona with his signature humour and impeccable comic timing, creating a character that left a lasting impression.
It is this ordinariness that sets him apart from his peers. Where others might rely on physical transformation or high-pitched dramatics, Tripathi relies on silence and lets his innocence do the talking on the big screen. His eyes carry stories, his voice commands empathy, not awe.
In a recent interview, the veteran actor admitted he never intended to become a “star.” He just wanted to act. That humility bleeds into every performance.
At times, his middle-class persona might seem a tad overdone, but with a solid theatre background and a deep understanding of character nuances, Pankaj Tripathi brings a rare authenticity to the screen. You might feel his Bihari accent taking over his characters, but that’s just his way of adding a uniqueness to his roles that makes him stand out from the rest.
Do you remember his role as Pandit in ‘Fukrey’ and Bhanu Pratak Pandey in ‘Mimi’? Both the roles proved his versatility and the fact that he is that actor who can slip into unexpected humour even in the bleakest moments, not to lighten the mood, but because that’s exactly how real people cope with life’s everyday absurdities.
Given his illustrious filmography, we can clearly state that the actor knows the tactics, and his biggest selling point remains his common man appeal, which will instantly make you feel connected with him. Hence, Pankaj Tripathi continues to be our delightfully quirky, undeniably magnetic common man hero.