Mumbai: Actor Pankaj Tripathi believes the success of Mirzapur: The Movie and Hanuman Ansh has challenged some long-standing assumptions about what brings audiences to cinema halls. According to him, recent theatrical performances have shown that a film does not necessarily need a conventional box-office star to attract viewers, provided its story and characters strike a chord with them.
Speaking on the second day of the Jagran Film Festival, Tripathi pointed to two developments that, in his view, have questioned industry perceptions. He cited Hanuman Ansh, which reportedly turned into a blockbuster in its third week, and the strong opening of films featuring actors who are not traditionally associated with major box-office openings.
Mirzapur: The Movie Connects With Audiences Through Its Characters
The big-screen continuation of the popular crime drama Mirzapur arrived in September and collected ₹229.60 crore nett at the Indian box office. The film followed three successful seasons of the series, which had built a dedicated audience around its characters and storyline.
Tripathi returned as Kaleen Bhaiya, alongside Ali Fazal as Guddu Pandit and Divyenndu as Munna. Other familiar members of the original cast also reprised their roles.
The actor believes the film’s theatrical performance was largely driven by the audience’s attachment to the characters. He said viewers had developed a connection with the world of Mirzapur and wanted to experience those familiar personalities on the big screen.
Tripathi also revealed that the OTT version of the film would have a slightly longer runtime than its theatrical release.
How Kaleen Bhaiya Became a Distinctive Character
Over the years, Pankaj Tripathi has earned recognition for performances in films and shows such as Gangs of Wasseypur, Fukrey, Masaan, Nil Battey Sannata, Newton, Bareilly Ki Barfi and Sacred Games. However, his portrayal of the controlled yet intimidating mafia boss Akhandanand Tripathi, popularly known as Kaleen Bhaiya, brought him a different level of public recognition.
The actor recalled that Newton had reached an audience of around 30 to 50 lakh people, whereas Mirzapur was watched by a much larger number of viewers. He also shared that, for the first time, he saw a solo promotional hoarding featuring himself. That visibility, he said, helped the character’s image remain in people’s minds.
Tripathi explained that he deliberately avoided portraying Kaleen Bhaiya as a conventional, loud villain. Instead, he chose a more restrained and natural approach to the character.
He also described changing the familiar visual style often associated with screen villains. Rather than keeping the character’s chin lowered and eyes raised, the team reversed the expression for Kaleen Bhaiya, giving him an elevated chin and a downward gaze.
Pankaj Tripathi Now Chooses Quality Over Quantity
The actor also spoke about how his approach to selecting projects has changed over time. Earlier, getting work was itself a major motivation because it helped him earn money, pay his EMIs and support his household. Today, he says, an engaging story is what drives him to accept a role.
Tripathi revealed that he listens to one or two scripts every week but does not feel the need to sign every project offered to him. He would rather work on two or three films than take up six or seven projects without being genuinely excited by them.
He added that a role should challenge him and create a little uncertainty about how he will bring the character to life.
Actor Says Stardom Was Never His Primary Goal
Reflecting on his journey, the Bihar-born actor said he never entered the film industry with the ambition of becoming a star. His original aim was to pursue acting, earn a decent living and provide for his family.
Tripathi said he is happy to continue acting and hopes to live a simple life with his family. Whatever recognition and success have come beyond those basic aspirations, he considers them an additional blessing.
