It was not long ago when we were introduced by a powerhouse of an actor called Pankaj Tripathi who took character acting to a new height. Often portraying a supporting role, his performance is always at par with, sometimes surpassing, the lead actors. From a menacing gangster to a tattletale uncle, the man has done it all with utmost perfection. Setting a strong ground for himself was never easy for Pankaj since nobody in his family hails from a film background.
However, with sheer dedication and commitment to his craft, Pankaj Tripathi has been able to make a prominent place in Bollywood and has been teaching the younger generation how it’s done. Let’s take a closer look at the life and struggle of our beloved Kaleen Bhaiya.
Big Dreamer From A Small Town
Born and raised near Ganga, Pankaj comes from a background as humble as it gets. Youngest among the five children of a farmer, Pankaj caught the acting bug quite early when he used to play the role of a girl in local Nataks. After moving to Patna and completing his graduation, Pankaj took a day job at a hotel while still dreaming of making it big in the acting world. After seven excruciating years of hard work and trying to keep the food on the table, Pankaj finally moved to Delhi to enroll himself in the National School of Drama where his childhood passion breathed a new life.
Off To A Start
Success was nothing but a hard-earned asset for Pankaj as his qualification from NSD didn’t do him much help in Bollywood. Perhaps an uncredited role in a small budget film Run would be a start, he thought. That Chhoti Ganga scene from the movie with him opposite Vijay Raaz, another gifted actor in his own right, stood out from the rest of the film and got Pankaj the much-needed head start to his career. Pankaj rose to prominence with Vishal Bhardwaj’s Shakespearian adaptation Omkara which displayed his talent as a method actor. In 2010, came Powder, a show narrating the gritty realities of drug mafia in Mumbai, in Which Pankaj played the main antagonist Naved Ansaari. His power-packed performance in the show was lauded by critics.
However, the show fell prey to lower ratings and kept being pushed to late-night slots eventually going off-air. Nevertheless, the show served as a milestone in Pankaj’s life as he believes he owes his current success to the series. By the way, it’s available on Netflix you should totally check it out! Pankaj kept taking roles no matter how small. His passion led him to play characters that had the least screentime and he didn’t mind it. And it is this dedication to the art form that gave him his most famous role yet, Sultan Qureshi in Anurag Kashyap’s magnum opus Gangs Of Wasseypur. The film made Pankaj a household name as his portrayal of a ferociously violent and ruthless mob leader in the titular city. Both the film and Pankaj were praised for the sheer realism showcased on the big screen.
We don’t blame you if you thought that after Wasseypur Tripathi would be the go-to guy for the filmmakers and he would finally get a lead role to play. That’s far from reality as Pankaj kept getting smaller roles which he continued doing proving that even after such a massively successful film in his kitty, he still respects the art form. He’s showed a glimpse of his unmatched skills in critically and commercially successful films as Fukrey, Singham Returns, and Masaan.
Taking The Lead
Pankaj finally took a big leap in his career with Newton, a film which dared to take on an issue that our vast majority turns a blind eye to, and slapped us out of our blissful ignorance. Pankaj’s performance as a hard-hearted but practical army man was considered by many as a second lead after Rajkumar Rao. The film earned him a National Award and was the official entry for Foreign Language category at the Oscars that year. Pankaj’s career went full throttle after Newton as he immediately got to play entirely different characters from a serious real estate kingpin in Gurgaon to a loving and caring father in Bareilly Ki Burfi to an unlikely guardian angel in Stree. Pankaj has been at the top of his game ever since. And with his latest blockbuster Luka Chuppi and Super 30 Pankaj has become a formidable acting force to be reckoned with.
On The Web Front
Talent knows no boundaries and Pankaj Tripathi has proved it. His meticulous study of characters and attention to detail led him to conquer the online streaming platform as well. Be it Sacred Games in which he gave us a conniving godman who’s hell-bent to eradicate the impure race in order to “save” the country, in Mirzapur where he played a mafia godfather who neither can cater to his wife’s needs nor can put a leash on his unhinged son, or Criminal Justice where he portrays a lawyer who leaves no stone unturned to protect the rights on an innocent, Pankaj has given us some memorable performances without which these respective shows would’ve felt incomplete. As the second seasons of Sacred Games and Mirzapur are around the corner, we can’t help but anticipate what this incredibly gifted actor has in his bag for us.
Future Projects
Pankaj has famously said in many interviews that his busy schedule makes him work for more than 300 days in a year. Considering his upcoming projects we can safely say that all his hard work is only going to pay him off. Even Karan Johar couldn’t resist himself from acknowledging Pankaj’s mettle and gave him a pivotal role in his latest Drive alongside Sushant Singh Rajput and Jacqueline Fernandez as well as Kargil Girl opposite Janhvi Kapoor which in itself is a testament to the actor’s artistry.
The method performer is also about to make his mark internationally as he’s going to be seen in Dhaka starring Chris Hemsworth and Manoj Bajpai which is in the final stages of completion. Pankaj will also grace the screen with 83 where he will play the manager of the Indian Cricket team during the 1983 World Cup. If you think this would be the peak of his career, wait till 2020 in which he will share the big screen with Kangana Ranaut in Panga, and Irrfan Khan and Kareena Kapoor in Angrezi Medium. Man, we just can’t wait to watch these films and witness this adept actor doing what he does best!
Our Final Word
Method acting is still in its infancy in Bollywood. Not many actors are able to submerge themselves in the character they play. Pankaj Tripathi, on the other hand, has achieved this feat polishing his skills with every film. This is a prime example of the evolution of an actor from starting out small and unnoticeable to capturing most of the screen space. He’s a rare talent that we must cherish and be thankful for. This gem of an actor is here to stay and will surely give us more memorable performances in the future as well.
