Feb 07, 2026 2:38pm IST
‘I Act Only For Artistic Satisfaction, Not For EMI And Survival’: Pankaj Tripathi (EXCLUSIVE)
It was in 2012 that Pankaj Tripathi made the audience sit up and take notice of his performance in Anurag Kashyap’s "Gangs of Wasseypur". Since then, the actor, who hails from Gopalganj district of Bihar, has carved a special place for himself in people’s hearts with brilliant performances in movies such as "Masaan," "Bareilly Ki Barfi," "Stree," Ludo" and "Mimi" as well as in OTT shows such as "Mirzapur" and "Criminal Justice".
The actor, who credits theater for shaping the artist and human being he is today, launched his own banner, Roopkatha Rangmanch, with his wife Mridula last year. Their maiden production—a musical comedy called "Lailaaj"—was recently selected for India’s largest theater festival, 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav, being hosted at NSD in New Delhi. What’s more is that Tripathi is acting on stage after almost a decade! Giving him company on stage is his daughter, Aashi, in her acting debut, making this an all-family collaboration. This Sunday there will be 10th show of "Lailaaj", in Mumbai, before it heads to Delhi for the February 14 show at the theater festival. Excerpts from a conversation with Pankaj Tripathi:
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How did you decide to start producing plays?
My wife and I were discussing how we have reached here because of the theater. Roopkatha Rangmanch is our contribution to theater. We want to do at least two plays a year and tour with them. We want to give opportunities to new talent. There are five or six graduates from NSD in our play. It is a big team of 30 artists and we have actors and musicians from different parts of the country. We don’t want new talent to face the challenges we faced when we started out in theater. They should get a stage to perform and get adequate remuneration for their work. We have not started this company to earn money, but as a payback to theater.
You returned to acting on stage after a decade. How did that happen?
It’s a cameo role that comes during the climax. For the first seven shows, the character was mentioned but didn’t come on stage. The director wanted me to play a role in the play and from the eighth show onward, I came on stage to perform this role. Earlier, the character had just four words to say; it’s extended to six lines now!
They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Your daughter Aashi has also stepped into acting with this play...
Yes, in fact, my character is there because of hers. She is the bride who runs away from her wedding and I play the chief guest who arrives just as soon as she leaves! She was always interested in acting and we told her that the craft should begin from the stage.
You are an NSD graduate yourself. Does it feel full-circle to bring the show to the same stage?
Absolutely. When I was studying in NSD, I never imagined that one day my daughter would get to perform on this stage! (laughs) As students, we used to be excited about Bharat Rang Mahotsav and make a list of the plays we wanted to watch on a daily basis. Now that there are students calling us every day to ask about the show and how they can get tickets for it, it is like revisiting those days. Honestly, it is a very big thing for me.
Your theater journey started from Patna, and then, after two failed attempts, you managed to crack the NSD admission. How did NSD come into the picture for you?
In Patna’s amateur theater scene, there was a craze for NSD. It was a big deal to get into the institute as they just had 20 seats back then. I was probably the first person from my district to get admission there. People don’t know about it enough, but Patna has a really vibrant environment for theater, classical music and painting. There must be more than 25 theater groups in Patna itself.
Earlier, the big screen was the only way forward for NSD graduates. Do you think the scope has expanded now?
Yes, a lot of different venues have opened up. You can act in films, OTT, do theater and even teach in universities and schools. That did not happen earlier. Now, with the advent of social media, everyone has become a content creator, or wants to become one.
You often speak about the power of imagination in acting. Tell us about that.
Acting has a really big base in imagination. We create characters based on our imagination. It can be a beautiful tool for an actor, but it can also backfire if misused. When actors work a lot on their imagination, their ability to do so goes up and it can also lead them in the wrong direction. You might see a small problem and make it bigger in your head because your imagination is heightened. Actors are fragile because of that.
You went on a year-long break some time ago. Why did you feel the need to slow down?
I was working back-to-back on projects. A sense of boredom and fatigue had crept in. I wasn’t enjoying my work. A break was much needed. I have become more selective now. I leave my home for work that excites me. I don't want to do every project that comes my way. I am in a phase of life where I only act for excitement and artistic satisfaction. I can't do it for EMI and survival. I want to keep doing this and see if this works for me in the long run.
Has your approach toward scripts changed post the break?
Yes, now I want to be part of meaningful cinema that is also entertaining. In India, people primarily watch movies for entertainment, which is why there is an entertainment tax. But storytelling is not just entertainment. It should have something to say as well.
Tell us about your film "Parivarik ManuRanjan" with Aditi Rao Hydari.
It is a simple, slice-of-life story. There is no over-the-top drama. Just like the comfort food, khichdi, this is comfort cinema.
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