Jun 13, 2026 3:00pm IST
Shweta Tripathi On Awaiting ‘Mirzapur’ Season 4 And Returning To Theatre After a Decade (EXCLUSIVE)
For Shweta Tripathi, 2026 is unfolding between two worlds that have defined her artistic journey. On the one hand, she has returned to theatre after nearly a decade with the play “External Affairs,” sharing the stage with husband Chaitnya Sharma (SlowCheeta). On the other hand, anticipation continues to build around the future of “Mirzapur,” the Prime Video series that saw Golu Gupta emerge as one of the prominent characters of India’s streaming era.
While theater has brought Tripathi back to the medium that first inspired her to become an actor, it is “Mirzapur” that continues to generate the loudest conversations around her career. And the actor admits she is as eager as fans are to revisit Golu. “‘Mirzapur’ is pure love for us, and Golu is, of course, incredibly special,” Tripathi tells Variety India. “With all these seasons, it’s almost going to be a decade now. Not only have we earned money from it, but we have earned so much more - the love, respect and connection. The cast and crew have become family. We have shared so much together.”
Since its premiere in 2018, “Mirzapur” has clicked with the audience. Across three seasons, Tripathi's Golu evolved from a bright college student into a hardened survivor navigating the violent power structures of Purvanchal.
Related Stories
For Tripathi, that transformation remains one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. “Golu is super special. I love playing her. When we talk about archetypes, I think Golu is a warrior. She is a girl who continues to behave with dignity even in the most difficult circumstances. She is not a poster girl. The things she witnessed changed her completely, and that is deeply unfortunate,” she says.
Playing those emotions came with its own challenges. “Especially in Seasons 2 and 3, I went into a deep rabbit hole and it took me time to come out of it. But I still love her so much.” Which is why the prospect of returning to the character remains exciting. “I cannot wait for Season 4. Fingers crossed. I’m praying for it. I am so excited. I can't wait to meet Golu again,” Tripathi says.
While “Mirzapur” remains an important part of her identity as a performer, Tripathi currently finds herself rediscovering another passion. Her return to theater through “External Affairs” marks her first major stage production in nearly ten years. “I think it’s been 10 years since the last time I did a play. We are two shows down and I can’t tell you how exciting it is,” she says.
Shweta Tripathi describes theater as a medium that demands complete presence. For her, the return is particularly meaningful because theatre was the reason she wanted to become an actor. She shares, “Since childhood, my parents exposed us to dance performances, poetry and theater. I think that stayed with me. Experiences shape who we become. Even before I became a full-time actor, I would spend whatever I could to experience theater because that genuinely excited me.”
The production has also given her an opportunity to collaborate extensively with her husband, Chaitanya Sharma. “He is one of my favorite human beings and is extremely disciplined. One thing theatre has taught me all over again is preparation. That is so important.”
Beyond acting, she is increasingly focused on creating opportunities behind the camera. She reveals that several projects are currently in development as part of her producing ambitions. “There are films that I want to produce. There are fantastic scripts from different writers and great directors attached to them. We will keep trying because that is what we came here to do.”
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.