‘MAIN ZYADA WALA OUTSIDER HOON FILM INDUSTRY MEIN’
Pankaj Tripathi believes that the Indian audience is democratic
Actor Pankaj Tripathi is among the best examples in Bollywood of someone entering the industry without any connections, and yet making a mark. As the insiders vs outsiders debate intensifies, star kids are at the receiving end of trolling on social media. “We should have empathy and kindness. One doesn’t decide where they are going to be born; it’s not in our hands. Right now, the world has below-average sensibility, and getting the facts to people through social media is difficult,” he says, when asked about his Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl co-star, Janhvi Kapoor, also being among those facing flak.
He says people don’t realise how their words online can affect the person it is directed at. “If I criticise or abuse someone in front of me, we can see their reaction, that they felt bad. But on social media, you don’t know how your comment impacts the person. I’m not in favour of or against anyone, but we should focus on how we can use social media creatively and healthily,” he adds.
Tripathi, 44, might be receiving accolades from the audience and critics alike today, but in a career spanning 16 years, he admits having gone through his share of hardships. “Main toh zyada wala outsider tha — I come from rural India, without an urban upbringing, studied in a Hindi medium school. My journey is proof that hard work, passion and sincerity can get you somewhere,” says the actor.
Agreeing that star kids have easy access to the industry bigwigs, Tripathi says, “Filmi parivaar ke bachchon ko advantage hai ki unko platform asani se mil jayega. I’ve been acting for 24 years now. It could have been that, instead of me, some film family kid would’ve been recognised right from their first film.”
“But for them to survive, talent is necessary. After the weekend, Monday onwards, the public comes to watch the film not because someone is a producer, director or star’s kid. It could be an average film for us, but a big chunk of India’s public could consider it above that.”
He cites the examples of actors such as Manoj Bajpayee, Sanjay Mishra, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and late Irrfan, who earned name and fame on their own merit, sans connections. “In the film industry, there’s the so-called path-breaking cinema and then there’s big production houses. Irrfan did [films in] neither of them, but I haven’t seen a bigger actor than him in 20 years. The Indian audience is democratic,” he concludes.
After the weekend, the public comes to watch a film not because someone is a producer, director or star’s kid.
PANKAJ TRIPATHI, Actor