Pankaj Tripathi, born asPankaj Tiwari (5 September 1976), is an Indian actor who predominantly works inHindi films and series.[3][4] He is the recipient of twoNational Film Awards and aFilmfare Award. After studying acting at theNational School of Drama, Tripathi had minor roles in such films asOmkara (2006) andAgneepath (2012), and had a supporting role in the television seriesPowder (2010).
His father worked as a farmer andHindu priest.[2] Tripathi's original last name wasTiwari, which he changed legally toTripathi in school as a 9th grader.[1] Tripathi also worked as a farmer with his father until he was in the 11th standard at school. During the festive seasons, he used to play the role of a girl in his village's local play (natak).[11]
After appearing in a small role in theKannada-language dramaChigurida Kanasu (2003), Tripathi moved toMumbai in 2004. His first role inHindi cinema was as a politician in aTata Tea advertisement, followed by an uncredited role in the romantic action filmRun (2004).[14][15]
Tripathi at a press conference in 2011
During the early period of his career, he mostly played antagonistic roles and became synonymous with gangster characters.[16][17] He appeared in various Hindi films in minor roles, includingBunty Aur Babli (2005),Apaharan (2005),Omkara (2006),Shaurya (2008),Raavan (2010),Aakrosh (2010),Chillar Party (2011), andAgneepath (2012).
He also appeared in the TV seriesBahubali and the crime drama TV seriesPowder (2010) onSony TV, as well as in a fewdaily soaps such asZindagi Ka Har Rang...Gulaal (2010–11) andSarojini - Ek Nayi Pehal (2015–16).
In 2012, he played his first major screen role as Sultan in the crime drama duologyGangs of Wasseypur.[18][19] It proved to be Tripathi's breakthrough and brought him recognition, post which he continued to star in minor roles in films such as the action filmsDabangg 2 (2012),Gunday (2014),Singham Returns (2014) andDilwale (2015).
In 2018, he starred alongside Rao andShraddha Kapoor in the horror comedyStree, which earned him high critical acclaim and theScreen Award for Best Supporting Actor, in addition to his second nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. Later that year, he made his debut inTamil cinema with theRajinikanth-starrer action dramaKaala.[23] The same year, he also starred as Akhandanand Tripathi a.k.a. "Kaleen Bhaiya", a mafia don in theAmazon Prime crime drama thriller web seriesMirzapur (2018–present) which earned him widespread critical acclaim and recognition, and a nomination for theFilmfare OTT Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the second season.[24]
In 2019, Tripathi starred in several critically acclaimed supporting roles in commercial successes such as the romantic comedy-dramaLuka Chuppi, the drama thrillerThe Tashkent Files and thebiographical dramaSuper 30. The same year, he starred as Khanna Guruji, a spiritual leader alongsideSaif Ali Khan,Nawazuddin Siddiqui,Kalki Koechlin andRanvir Shorey in the second season of theneo-noir crime thrillerSacred Games (2018–19), which earned him high critical acclaim and a second nomination for the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. He also starred in theDisney+ Hotstar legal drama web seriesCriminal Justice as a lawyer, and reprised his role in the second (Behind Closed Doors (2020)) and third season (Adhura Sach (2022)). The second season earned him a nomination for the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actor In A Drama Series.
In 2021, for a second consecutive year, Tripathi received dual nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his widely acclaimed performances in the social comedy-dramaMimi and the biographical sports drama83, winning the award forMimi.[27][28] His performance inMimi also earned him theNational Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.[29] The same year, he also starred in theZEE5 biographical comedyKaagaz (2021), which earned him a nomination for theFilmfare OTT Award for Best Actor in A Web Original Film.
Tripathi was the brand ambassador ofBharat Rang Mahotsav (National Theatre Festival) for the year 2024.[34][35]In 2024, he reprised his role as Rudra inStree 2.[36]
Tripathi met his wife Mridula during a wedding ceremony in 1993 when they were both in college and then got married on 15 January 2004. They moved to Mumbai after their marriage, and had a daughter named Aashi Tripathi in 2006.[11][38]
Tripathi is known as amethod actor[39] and is widely recognised for his unconventional choices.[40]Namrata Joshi ofThe Wire termed him a "natural actor" and said, "Give Tripathi any role and he will make it his own with his signature style – minimalistic, effortless, unhurried."[41]The Hindu noted, "We have been encountering him more often on screen than for real, in one power-packed performance after another."[42] On his rise to success, A. Kameshwari ofThe Indian Express stated, "The actor, whose early roles are mostly credited as ‘unnamed character’, now has roles written specifically for him."[43]
"With popularity I feel I need to be more careful about choosing scripts. I now look for roles and projects that are entertaining, but also have some social message or subtext."
— Tripathi explaining his approach in choosing films[44]
Tripathi is known for his experimental roles, Sweta Kaushal ofHindustan Times feels he is not among those actors who'd get stuck in one type of role. She further added, "Tripathi's subtle portrayal of even the most dramatic character distinguishes him from many others in the business."[4] While he had his breakthrough withGangs of Wasseypur, Tripathi is popular for his portrayal of Kaleen Bhaiya inMirzapur, which according toThe Statesman, has been an inspiration for many aspiring actors.[45]
His directors and producers, find him to be a natural and grounded actor.Raj Nidimoru said, "Given a specific or banal set of instructions, Tripathi would interpret it in a slightly different way and most of the times it would put a smile on your face."[46]Karan Anshuman, who directed him inMirzapur, says, "I know he’s got this mimetic ability to be who he needs to be once the camera rolls. When he finds that perfect note, when he knows he’s got it (and the director knows he’s got it), he holds on to it with such fierce consistency that the slightest shifts only serve to elevate his performance."[46]
Tripathi is one of the highest paid OTT actors in India.[47][48] ForNewton,NDTV named him the "Best Actor" of 2017.[49] In 2020,Rediff.com placed him sixth in their "10 Best Actors" of the year list, for his performance inGunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl andLudo.[50]
Tripathi is an active celebrity endorser for brands such asStar Plus,Tata Tea,Redmi,Policybazaar among others.[51][52] In November 2023,NPCI appointed him as the "UPI Safety Ambassador".[53] Along with his acting career, Tripathi has been associated to social causes such as tree plantation.[54] In 2023, he opened a library at a school inBelsand,Gopalganj, in his father's memory.[55] TheElection Commission of India made Tripathi, the "National Icon" in 2022, to honour his association with ECI in creating awareness among voters.[56]
