Pankaj Tripathi on daughter Aashi’s stage debut: "She was sharper than me by the third show”

Pankaj Tripathi on daughter Aashi’s stage debut: "She was sharper than me by the third show”

Pankaj Tripathi has always been known for his grounded charm, sharp instinct and unmatched craft, but this time the seasoned actor is celebrating someone else’s performance: his daughter Aashi Tripathi’s stage debut. Aashi stepped into the spotlight last month with the play Lailaaj, marking a quiet but promising beginning to her artistic journey.

Lailaaj has been produced under Pankaj and Mridula Tripathi’s theatre banner, Roopkatha Rangmanch, which they launched this year. The play opened in November with back-to-back shows in Mumbai, drawing warm appreciation from theatregoers. For Pankaj, watching his daughter perform was a layered experience. He admitted that he deliberately observed her not as a doting father but as a fellow actor analysing the craft.

He told HT City, “I saw the performances as an actor, and not as a father.” What stood out to him was Aashi’s ability to absorb feedback with maturity. “She took it very well. By the third show, I saw her improvement, I felt she was sharper than me. When our teachers used to explain all us these things, it would take us one or two years to adopt that. She achieved that miracle in just three shows. This new generation is very sharp, very advanced. But the problems they face are also sharper and very advanced.”

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Pankaj’s pride comes mixed with realism. He understands the uncertainties of the industry better than most. He revealed that Aashi hasn’t yet decided whether she wants to continue acting professionally. The decision, he insists, will be entirely hers. “I will let her find her way. I know the difficulties that lie on this path. Either I can scare her now, or I can give her the freedom to do her thing her way. Not just my daughter, I think this freedom should be given to all kids. Tell them to do what they want, and even if they fail, it’s no big deal.”

While Aashi weighs her next steps, Pankaj Tripathi continues to juggle an active slate of projects. He was last seen in Anurag Basu’s romantic drama Metro… In Dino, where he starred opposite Konkona Sen Sharma. He is currently filming a Mirzapur movie as well as Parivarak Manuranjan opposite Aditi Rao Hydari. Both titles are expected to release in 2026, adding yet another busy chapter to his already packed career.