Pankaj Tripathi Reflects on Becoming the Audience's Hero

Pankaj Tripathi reveals that many people approach him for selfies, often without having seen his work but recognizing his performances through trending memes and reels on social media. The actor, renowned for his role as Kaleen Bhaiya in the popular Prime Video series "Mirzapur," acknowledges the public for catapulting him to fame.

"I just say what I feel like. I'm glad people connect to it. Janta (public) has made me popular with memes and reels. I'm the hero of the audience; they made me a popular actor. I don't know marketing and all. Earlier, I would turn up for interviews and events dressed casually, but now I dress up," Tripathi shared in an interview with PTI.

Hailing from Belsand village in Gopalganj district of Bihar, Tripathi recounted an incident in his hometown highlighting his social media popularity, sometimes independent of his movies. "Recently, I came across two boys in my village. They came to me and said they wanted a picture with me. I was like, 'Which film or show of mine have you seen?' They said, 'We haven't seen any of them but we have seen your memes.' They were like, 'We are just happy to see you'," he recalled.

Despite his inclination towards middle-of-the-road and independent projects, Tripathi understands the potential of commercial cinema to reach a broad audience. While he admires films like "Court," "Killa," "Trance," and "Mandela," he emphasizes the importance of sensible yet commercial cinema with wide reach.

Tripathi expressed his interest in independent cinema as an audience member but recognizes the impact of commercial films. His upcoming release, "Main Atal Hoon," a biopic on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is crafted in a sensible and engaging manner, aiming to entertain while providing inspiration.

Directed by Ravi Jadhav, the biographical drama delves into Atal ji's life and India's journey post-independence. Tripathi revealed his initial lack of confidence on the set but emphasized the importance of capturing the soul of the character rather than imitating Atal ji.

Addressing concerns about the film turning into propaganda, Tripathi reassured that the team made every effort to be authentic and present Atal ji's persona on screen honestly. "Main Atal Hoon" is set to hit theaters on January 19, produced by Vinod Bhanushali, Sandeep Singh, and Kamlesh Bhanushali. Bhavesh Bhanushali and Sam Khan serve as co-producers on the project.

(With Agency Inputs)