Why Pankaj wants screenplays and dialogues written in Devanagari

With as many as six films in the offing, Pankaj Tripathi is looking forward to an amazing year ahead. Even in 2019, the actor received praises from critics and audience alike for films such as The Tashkent Files, Super 30, Luka Chuppi, and web series Sacred Games, Mirzapur. The 43-year-old is thanking his stars that he’s getting more opportunities both in films and on the web, and has now started asking for his scripts to be written in Devanagari script.

Ask him the reason behind this and he explains,“I understand that the script is read by everyone among the cast and crew, and I’m not against that. But, I ask the makers to send my script in Devanagari. It’s the language I’m most comfortable in and would love to enjoy it in its authentic form.”

Pankaj clarifies that his choice isn’t based only on his love for the language. “I’m not happy with the practice of writing Hindi words and sentences in English. These days, the screenplays often follow this format to make things easier for all on board. I feel it affects the essence of the language,” he reasons.

The Newton actor, however, is quick to add that he has nothing against English as a language and that he prefers its usage when the character he’s playing has English dialogues.“At times, young writers who are creating content for films and web forget the language that we speak in and end up mixing them together. I don’t blame them. But, at the end of the day, we are working in the Hindi film industry and it’s essential to keep the language alive in its truest form. That’s what I speak on screen as well. I want to be a part of a film with a clear understanding of the character and its roots,” says Pankaj.

We are working in the Hindi film industry and it’s essential to keep the language alive in its truest form. I want to be a part of a film with a clear understanding of the character and its roots.

PANKAJ TRIPATHI

ACTOR