Pankaj Tripathi didn't think 'Mirzapur' would become a huge hit

Actor talks movies, his biggest project and making it in big in the world of entertainment

Some actors don’t need to become mainstream heroes to make it big in the film industry. They simply elevate themselves with one astounding performance after the other, until their name becomes synonymous with superstardom and success.

Pankaj Tripathi is one such individual, unperturbed by genres or the length of his role in a film. Long or short, he will make his mark no matter what. He can tickle your funny bones with an impeccable comic timing and send chills down your spine when he gets down to business. He’s a man of many faces, moods and talents and with the second season of Mirzapur underway, Tripathi is all set to add another feather in his cap as Kaleen Bhaiyya.  

Here’s what the actor had to say about the second season of the acclaimed show, in an interview with Filmfare.

Q: What can we expect from season two of ‘Mirzapur?’

Pankaj Tripathi (PT):  The conflict has risen and there is more depth in the story now. The subplots have become very interesting and several new characters have joined in. New complications and plot twists have come in Kaleen Bhaiyya’s life and therefore, the entertainment quotient has also gone up. It’s very engaging. I personally like the writing of the second season more.

Q: Why did it get so delayed?

PT: You won’t believe, people would question me every day about the release of the second season. The thing is, when you’re working on something like this and something of good quality, it takes time to write so much content. With four hundred pages to a script, a big unit that will shoot outside and the post-production, it takes time. Plus the lockdown delayed it further. If you look at the runtime, it’s like three films. So it’s bound to take more time 

Q: How were you approached for the series? 

PT: I have worked with Excel before. I did Fukrey with the production house and was acquainted with the creative team there. I don’t even remember who had called me for it but I heard the story and I loved it! It sounded like a fun project. 

Q: Did you expect ‘Mirzapur’ to be such a big success?

PT: No, not at all. I liked the story and was sure we’d make a good show but I never expected it to become so popular.

Q: It was your first OTT project. What made you take up the project?

PT: I look for a good script, brilliant writing and also the team that will be working on the project. It also matters what platform the film or series will go upon. 

Q: How much do you relate to Kaleen Bhaiyya? 

PT: The only similarity was that I was aware of the environment the character is living in. I understood the landscape because I am from that area. I got the mannerisms because I’m from Purvanchal and there are a lot of such people there.

But as an actor, even when referencing from real life, you add your own values to the character. So I took this as an opportunity to make this villain very contemporary. Unless you follow the character intricately, you won’t see the evil in him. 

Q: If you were to play another character from ‘Mirzapur,’ which one would you pick?

PT: I think Rasika Duggal’s character Beena. Also, maybe Munna because he’s arrogant and nonsensical but there is an innocence there. He does bad stuff but he’s constantly trying to prove himself to his father. His need for validation has innocence in it. 

Q: The show has some great actors. How was the dynamics on set? 

PT: Every co-actor I have ever had so far, I have a very close bond with them. I get extremely attached. For me, more than the actor, the person becomes very important. I’m not very serious on set and love to keep it light.

As a society, we are lacking a sense of humour and have become quite edgy. There used to be a time when we would laugh at ourselves. I still do that. You have to keep smiling! The world is an intense place and a show like Mirzapur takes you away from that reality; it gives you a good break. 

Q: As an actor, how different do you think the process of working on a series is, compared to a feature film? 

PT: We get more time. You have the choice to explore characters, go deep into their history and can experiment with scenes and cinematic elements. Feature films give you two hours and can sometimes restrict the imagination. 

Q: With so many action dramas online that deal with similar premises, what do you think makes ‘Mirzapur’ stand out? 

PT: Along with gang wars and crime, Mirzapur also has a lot of humour. It is quirky and the characters are very interesting. Kaleen Bhaiya is not your traditional villain. He is soft-spoken, progressive and woke. He is respectful of women. His actions are a contradiction of his personality. All this makes the show very interesting. The writing and characters with the twist in the story have made the show popular amongst the masses. 

Q: Many believe ‘Mirzapur’ is one of the best shows right now. Do you think it’s the strongest point of the show? 

PT: Yes, of course! Puneet Krishna, who is the writer, had made a wonderful world with his stories. The entire team worked on it. I would term it as a collaborative effort as we all worked very hard.