By Priya Bhattacharji

Intellectual humility in the field of arts is so rare to find that I’d mummify it if I could. One does get accustomed to hear the sweeping statements about the “masses,” the regular Bollywood-bashing and extolling of “indie” from the artful eclectic.

Whether you are a stickler for meaningful cinema or an unabashed lover of masala cinema, Pankaj Tripathi is undoubtedly a face you will recognize and appreciate. Known for his nuanced acting, he has delivered many laudable performances in the last year to earn a spot on almost every year-ender acting list.

He seemingly belongs to a rare breed who understands both the craft and business of acting, as well as the milieu he operates in. Still, ego doesn’t appear to precede his craft. We probe this self-negotiating actor to know more about his approach towards the cinema he occupies so effortlessly:

I know I have really pestered you for the interview…

Not at all. It was hard to find time these days as I was busy shooting for Amazon’s Mirzapur, and some ads. At the moment I’m headed to Chanderi, which is around 200 kms from Bhopal, to shoot for Stree with Amar Kaushik.

That sounds really hectic.

There has been a lot of workload recently. Last year, I did 10 films. Kya batau aapko – pata nahi kitni flights liye, kahan kahan travel kiya shooting ke liye. 

I suppose that’s the Bombay hustle.

Yes, it’s been 12 years since I moved to Bombay. Yahan sab bhaagte rethe hai aur agar doosri nazariye se dekhe, yahan pe sakoon nahi hai magar ab mujhe uski aadat hai.

And where did you migrate from?

From Patna. I belong to Belsand, a small village in Gopalgunj, Bihar.

Interiors mein hain, no TV, no electricity. I studied there till Class 10 and then moved to Patna to prepare for medical exams. And that’s where my interest in theatre developed. I started acting in Hindi plays and developed a keen interest in literature. I acted in all kinds of plays, ranging from Sanskrit to Shakespeare. I read a wide range of literature, ranging from Hindi writers such as Uday Prakash to European writers such as Chekhov and Camus. Then I went to NSD to study drama and returned to Patna to work in Hindi theatre.

When did your interest in cinema start?

That happened quite late. I have been closer to literature and theatre. I wasn’t really into cinema till Sanjay Dutt’s ‘Sadak’ was released. After seeing that movie, I was so inspired that I ended growing my hair. This was in 1994-95. In fact, the police in Patna had taken to chopping the hair of boys who had grown their hair. I got mine chopped off before that. My relationship with cinema till then was restricted to watching the occasional Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit and Mithun Da film.

What made you make the move from Patna to Bombay?

In the early 2000s, if acting was your profession, you had to migrate to Bombay to try your luck. Unlike now, where you have casting directors looking for talent far and wide. Though I still entertain youngsters from my village who land up in Mumbai with dreams of becoming an actor. Koi mere father ka, mere brother ka reference lekhe aa jata hai. I meet them to counsel them that acting is a serious business. All of them land up here saying, “acting mera passion. mujhe actor hi banna hai”.

What do you advise them?

I have to make them understand ki passion se kuch nahi hota. Koi born actor nahi hai. Koi passion se neurologist nahi bann jaata na. Acting is a craft that requires learning, it needs be studied. Even song and dance in our movies is a craft, dialogue delivery is a craft. Unfortunately, 99% of the country does know how to appreciate the art. There is only the FTII Film Appreciation course I can think of.

What about the art of your acting?

See I have read many acting theories, done numerous practicals. Duniya bhar ki theories padi hai but acting khud seekhi hai. I have never really been in awe of any one’s acting as such.

At the end of the day, no matter what you learn and read, every actor has to have his own approach and theory of acting: his own ‘method acting’. Personally, I don’t believe in giving boring, bloodless performances. I met a gentleman in the flight yesterday who complimented me on my acting. He was sure I hadn’t studied acting as I was natural and faultless. I had to tell him I’m a trained actor who has studied acting at the best drama school in the country. How can acting be natural? You have to say lines written by others, in front of a crew of hundred people. You have to romance the actress who probably plays your sister in another film. Bareily ki barfi mein heroine ka baap tha, Munna Michael mein heroine ko chedh raha tha.

I’m sure you know you are a well-appreciated actor.

Well, I don’t have a PR agent. Kabhi kabhi sochta hu ek PR company rakh lu, charchith ho jaunga kyun ki aaj kal trending ka zamana hai. Har cheez ko trend hona chahiye usse kal yaad na rakho ya. Mein kaam se yaadgaar rahu aise mera manna hai. I have been going to the smallest of towns and I realise people seem to be paying a lot of attention to my acting. I have looked the same while playing Sultan in Wasseypur or Rangeela in Anaarkali of Aarah or even the Principal in Nil Battey Sannata…phir bhi mera har role pichle wale se alag hai.

Why no PR? Are you media-averse?

Nahi nahi, mein toh bahut baatuni insaan hu. Kisse se bhi baat kar lunga. I just haven’t given it much thought.

What about awards?

TV awards 3 gaante ka manorajan hota hai. They are not meant to be taken seriously.

What do you have to say about film critics? Do you take that seriously or do you think they are distant from ground reality?

Some of them are, but I do read a lot of film reviews by Raja Sen, Rahul Desai, Baradwaj Rangan, Shubhra Gupta. I read them more as an exercise in personal development. I read them to find ways to grow and enhance my craft.

There is so much to talk about growth and variation in your roles last year.

Well, I have been a student of literature. I like good stories, stories that challenge the system, stories that make you think and question. At the end of the day, aap kalakaar ho. Sirf hard-core manoranjan aapka kaam nahin hai. Mujhe achchi script excite karti hai. Cinema is not merely a medium of entertainment. There has to be storytelling. When I was reading the script for Newton, I said yes midway through. It was such a socially relevant movie. Otherwise who wants to talk about the Naxal issue? From last year, Gurgaon was my most favourite. In fact, it’s my favourite role till date. The director Shankar Raman didn’t know much about me; the producer suggested me for the role. Again it was a highly complex narrative. Bahut layered film thi. It was this India-Shining type layer of a city, then the dark undercurrents of real estate and an agrarian economy. It also highlighted the status of women and complex father-son relationship.

I haven’t been able to get hold of the film. Where can I see it?

It will be out on Hotstar soon. The film wasn’t widely distributed.

Such complex narratives usually aren’t.

Newton earned about 30 crores. It was declared a hit. Kuch toh badla hai. Urban centres such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, where these films manage to get distribution, respond very well. Phir bhi Judwaa aur Golmaal hi 100 crores kamati hai. India itna tanavpuran desh hai. Koi aam aadmi jab cinema jaata hai woh 3 gaante ek maaya ki duniya mein hona chahta hai. People face so many economic and social issues. He doesn’t wish to see conflict and misery on-screen that remind him of his day-to-day struggle. That is a reality. Apni audience ko accha literature, accha music kahan milta hai? Why do you think Honey Singh is so popular? However, if an independent film with a good story gets a good distributor I’m sure people will like it. Ab Commerical aur independent cinema mein zyaada doori nahi hai.

What has been your memorable audience interaction in the recent past?

Newton had made it to the Berlin Film Festival. There were five shows followed by Q&A for 40 mins. Itni shandaar audience thi mein aapko kya batau. They saw the movie in subtitles, and still they had so many questions to ask.

Q&As are part of some Indian screenings too.

Haan thoda badal raha; things are changing. The youth is exposed to a lot more than previous generations. Even a boy sitting in Indore can watch and learn to appreciate Iranian cinema.

And what plans for the year ahead?

Currently, I have a lot of work in hand. It was really hectic last year. Abhi tak bahut choosy nahin tha; abhi 2-3 films karoonga. Aur thodi parivar aur neend ki taraf bhi dhyaan dena chatha hu. I think it’s time to choose characters that deserve me, and do work I deserve to be part of.