Acting helps one become a better human

Poet, writer, and two-time national award-winning actor Pankaj Tripathi (47) is a man who wears many hats. The multi-talented character actor who has been part of some outstanding movies knows that fame and fortune are ephemeral. Coming from a humble farming family from Belsand village in Bihar, Pankaj knows the hardships that a common man faces. Perhaps the reason why he breathes a soul into every character that he portrays on the silver screen. While some enter showbiz for fame and fortune, Pankaj feels acting serves a broader purpose. “When you put yourselves in someone else’s shoes and understand their thoughts, pain, emotions, and perspectives, you also become a better human being,” says Tripathi in a free-wheeling conversation at the 54th IFFI in Goa.

Pankaj, who worked in the fields with his father till his 11th standard, knows the importance of being “humble” and “grounded”, especially in an industry that is plagued with star tantrums, ego trips, and catfights. Pankaj feels that arrogance comes with fame only when one forgets his or her roots. “Fifteen years ago, nobody knew me. Fifteen years from now, maybe nobody will remember me,” he says.
However, Pankaj does emphasize being aware of one’s inner power to ensure it is not misused. “Life becomes meaningful only when fame and money are used for a good purpose,” he says.  

Throwing some light on his acting process and preparing for the myriad onscreen characters that he has portrayed; Pankaj says that we all play different roles in our lives. “Acting is nothing but an honest recreation of real-life roles and emotions. One needs to be empathetic to become a fine actor. You need to be flexible and open (body, mind, and soul) to mold yourself as per the character,” he says adding, “An actor can always take risks and experiment with their role. Experimentation keeps acting alive.” The actor underscored the importance of experimentation, distinguishing between an actor’s freedom to explore roles and the constraints of stardom which create an expectation and a larger-than-life image in the minds of the audience.

Acclaimed Movies

Some of Pankaj Tripathi’s critically-acclaimed movies are

Gangs of Wasseypur
Omkara
Criminal Justice
Fukrey
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Gurgaon
Mirzapur
Sacred Games
Masaan
Newton
Nil Battey Sannata
Mimi
OMG 2