'Mirzapur gave me a different level of stardom': Pankaj Tripathi on how Kaleen Bhaiya shaped his global fame - Exclusive

During the exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol, Pankaj Tripathi admitted that Mirzapur gave him a 'different level of stardom' both in India and overseas.

• Mirzapur: The Movie to release in theatres on September 4.
• Pankaj Tripathi returns as Kaleen Bhaiya, a role that brought him global fame.
• The film reveals a new story with iconic Mirzapur characters.

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Only a few contemporary actors can balance both menace and warmth as effortlessly as Pankaj Tripathi. In recent years, the National Award-winning actor has gradually gravitated toward gentler, morally grounded characters, yet one role continues to define his global recall, which is the menacing and manipulative Kaleen Bhaiya from Mirzapur.

Now that the hit series, which aired its first season in 2018 on Prime Video, is going to be released as a movie in theatres soon, we asked Pankaj about returning to his negative role yet again. During the exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol, Pankaj Tripathi admitted that Mirzapur gave him a 'different level of stardom' both in India and overseas.

“Mirzapur gave me a different level of stardom. Outside India too, people call me Kaleen Bhaiya,” he told us.

Interestingly, for him, the appeal of the role lies in how different it is from his real personality. He admits in real life he is a very positive person, and bringing to life the character of Kaleen Bhaiya on screen helps him hone his skills again.

“I am not like him at all—not that serious, manipulative or cunning. So I actually have to act more to become him, and I enjoy that. We really enjoyed shooting for the movie. Now let’s see how viewers take it on a larger canvas,” he added.

Amazon MGM Studios and Excel Entertainment are going to present the first-ever cinematic adaptation of India’s biggest, fan-favourite franchises - Mirzapur.

The film unveils an untold chapter from the iconic Mirzapur universe, the film is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar and co-produced by Kassim Jagmagia and Vishal Ramchandani under the banner of Excel Entertainment and directed by Gurmmeet Singh.

Shifting focus from negative roles to softer, positive characters

Pankaj Tripathi’s early filmography featured powerful negative or intense roles that left a lasting impression. After playing Sultan in Gangs of Wasseypur, audiences were surprised to see him as the understated station master in Masaan, a transition Pankaj admits opened doors to a wide emotional spectrum.

Pankaj Tripathi himself admits that thanks to his role in Masaan, he is able to play the role of Madhav Mishra in legal drama Criminal Justice, Rudhra in Stree and many more.

The move toward positive roles, he reiterates, was instinctive rather than strategic.

Yet despite this shift, the shadow of Kaleen Bhaiya continues to travel globally with him.

Playing Rudhra in Horror Comedy Stree changed things

If Mirzapur showcased intimidation, the Stree universe revealed Pankaj Tripathi’s instinct for tonal precision. Working with director Amar Kaushik offered him unusual creative freedom.

“Amar Kaushik gives complete liberty to play. In Stree, we have to scare people and make them laugh at the same time. It’s a rare combination where the actor must feel fear so that the audience can laugh," he added.

The blend of horror and comedy, he said, sets the franchise apart from earlier accidental genre overlaps.

But he also admitted that sequels often lead to amplification and then it replaces originality but Stree he says managed to stay true to its organic self.

“The first part is always organic. Sequels can become synthetic while trying to amplify the same elements. But Stree maintains balance because of the writing and Amar’s vision," he added.

Despite global fame, Pankaj Tripathi says he approaches acting with a craftsman’s detachment and places his complete trust in storytelling.

“I depend entirely on the writing. I do my work and move on. In a series, character arcs keep changing because the story has to move. I like that. And in life, I feel gratitude toward God," he said.

Also read: Exclusive - Pankaj Tripathi on wife Mridula turning producer with Lailaaj, ‘she says meri aik aur identity bhi hai tumhari biwi ke ilava’

About Mirzapur The Movie

One of India’s most iconic OTT franchise makes its long-awaited leap to cinemas. The makers have also announced September 4 as the theatrical release date of Mirzapur: The Movie.

The film brings back iconic characters of Mirzapur — Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi), Guddu Pandit (Ali Fazal), and marks the much-anticipated comeback of Munna Bhaiya (Divyenndu), one of the franchise’s most loved characters.