Page 83 - CTB_Icons-of-india_LR
P. 83
80 81
Pankaj Tripathi
Kaleen Bhaiya files high
ankaj Tripathi is an He deserves every bit of his success
accomplished actor who has but it did not come to him on a platter.
earned a name for himself After passing out of the prestigious
with his effortless and natural National School of Drama in 2004,
acting talent. Born in Belsand village Pankaj landed in Mumbai to try his
under Barauli block of Gopalganj luck in Hindi cinema but he could
district of Bihar, Pankaj has acted not get any meaty role for seven to
Pankaj is now one of the busiest in more than 60 films, television eight years despite giving auditions for
actors in Bollywood, equally serials and web series so far. He has hundreds of projects. Talking about
also won the National Award for
those days, Pankaj says that he did
in demand for mainstream his performance in the 2017-release, not give up hope and kept trying for
movies and web series. He Newton. Although Pankaj began his a good break.
Son of a farmer-priest, Pankaj
career with a bit role in Run in 2004,
deserves every bit of his success success eluded him for several years studied at his village school and
but it did not come to him on but he did not give up. The break he shifted to Patna for coaching, His
was waiting for finally came in 2012
father wanted him to be a doctor but
a platter. After passing out of when Anurag Kashyap offered him he was drawn towards acting. Though
the prestigious National School a key role in Gangs of Wasseypur. he took part in student politics,
Though the film had seasoned
dabbled in business by selling shoes,
of Drama in 2004, Pankaj artistes such as Manoj Bajpayee and did a hotel management course, and Sometimes, I think that God
landed in Mumbai to try his Nawajuddin Siddiqui, Pankaj earned worked in the kitchen of a hotel in had given the drama culture to
Patna, he immersed himself headlong
rave reviews for his role. He followed
luck in Hindi cinema but he it up with good roles in Masaan in acting once he got a chance to do my village for my sake
could not get any meaty role (2015) and Nil Batey Sannata (2016) theatre at Kalidas Rangalaya in Patna.
The success of Manoj Bajpayee
but Newton, released in 2017, made
for seven to eight years despite the film industry notice his flair inspired him to become an actor
giving auditions for hundreds for natural talent. Bareilly Ki Barfi when he saw Satya in 1998. Later, “Sometimes, I think that God had
he made it to the National School of
(2017), Stree (2018) and Mimi (2021)
of projects. Talking about those established him further as an actor of Drama in 2001 from where he shifted given the drama culture to my village
days, Pankaj says that he did not unfathomable talent. It was, however, to Mumbai. for my sake,” he told an interviewer
his portrayal of gangster Kaleen
recently. At 46, Pankaj has a long
Pankaj says that he was initially
give up hope and kept trying for Bhaiya in the Amazon Prime Video drawn to acting after he participated innings to play in the years ahead. He
a good break. web series, Mirzapur that heralded in two plays during the Chhath festival has been receiving dozens of offers
his arrival in the big league. Pankaj in his village. He thinks that the every week from the producers of
is now one of the busiest actors in culture of annual drama in his village every hue not only from Bollywood
Bollywood, equally in demand for during the festival paved the way for but also from the south but he does
mainstream movies and web series. him for his ultimate entry into films. not have time to accept most of them.
