Pankaj Tripathi turned 49 today. The actor, known for his wide range of performances, has rose to stardom bit by bit over the years. On his big day, he gets talking about his ascent to stardom and more.
Pankaj Tripathi, on his 49th birthday, speaks about his ascent to stardom: “Some years back, I accepted any role that was offered to me. Now I’m in a position to pick and choose”
How do you view your climb from a bit player to one of the sought-after actors in Hindi cinema?
I don’t think about these things. I am only grateful to be getting work, and good work. As far as my struggle is concerned, who doesn’t have to struggle to get somewhere in life? Haven’t you struggled to get where you are? Not that I have forgotten my early days of hunger and desperation. Back in my village in Bihar, the entire family lived in one roof with a tin roof which leaked during the rains.
Today you are the toast of tinsel town
People who are knowledgeable about acting, praise me. Manoj Bajpayee called to say, ‘Yeh tu kya kar raha hai? Kaise kar raha hai?’ Manoj bhai is my role model and inspiration as he also came from rural Bihar and I felt if he could become an actor, why can’t I? It’s a good feeling. Until some years back, I accepted any role that was offered to me. Now I’m in a position to pick and choose.
My favourite role of yours is that of the Bihari lawyer with a sharp mind in Applause Entertainment’s Criminal Justice
The role of the cheesy but kind-hearted and finally heroic lawyer in Criminal Justice wasn’t originally what it finally became. I didn’t watch the original HBO miniseries, The Night Of. I didn’t want to get influenced by the actor (John Turturro) who played the lawyer in the original. My lawyer’s character Madhav Mishra was not written the way I’ve played it. But by and by I added ‘character’ to my character. I improvised my lines, reworked my scenes until Madhav Mishra shed his sleazy skin and actually ended up being humane and even heroic. There is a core of humanism in even the lowliest of characters. All one needs to do is dig deep enough into the well of the character’s personality.
An actor should never lose his connection with his roots. Today, my wife Mridula and I own our dream house. But I haven’t forgotten my one-room shed with its tin roof in Patna. One night the rains and wind were so intense one of the tin sheets blew away and I was left looking at the naked sky.
Were you always inclined towards acting?
I was culturally inclined from the beginning. At 21, I’d cycle for miles to catch a concert by Bismillah Khan. Although I didn’t understand the music, I listened in rapt attention. I had no interest in cinema. Theatre was my scene. I joined the NSD (National School of Drama) in Delhi, did my course and returned to Bihar to pursue theatre. But I soon realized there was no future, no money in theatre. I decided to move to Mumbai where movie acting was a viable option. For years there were only the bit roles. My wife Mridula and I survived on her income in Mumbai. She was a qualified school teacher and she got a job in Mumbai while I did what all out-of-town actors in Mumbai do – struggle.
My first major role was in Bhavna Talwar’s Dharm in 2007 where I got to work with my namesake the great Pankaj Kapoor. It is significant that my first major role came to me from a woman director. Women have always played a very important part in my career. Besides my wife Mridula, I can’t thank the great acting luminaries like Anamika Tiwari, Anuradha Kapoor enough. They encouraged me and gave me hope as an actor. Every experience has shaped the actor and human being that I am.
BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.