‘I AM TRYING TO SLOW DOWN A BIT’

Birthdays are special, more so when you can spend it with your loved ones. For actor Eijaz Khan, who turns 46 today, this year’s celebration promises to be memorable as it will be the first one with his lady love Pavitra Punia.

Khan, who looks forward to spending the day with Punia, says, “This birthday is extra special because this is the first time I’ll be spending it with my beloved. Even if she just cooks me a meal, I’ll feel like the king of the world.” And ask him if the wedding bells will ring this year for the couple and he says, “Inshallah, we’ll announce that soon.”

On his birthday, he urges everyone to come forward and support underprivileged children to help them study. “I used to spend my birthdays with kids who aren’t as privileged as most of us. If each one of us supports a child and their education, it would be the best birthday gift for me,” says the actor who was recently seen in City Of Dreams Season 2.

Talking of privileges and prejudices, he feels television stars are often discriminated against due to the perception that TV actors are ‘over-thetop’. “People think web shows need realistic acting. But TV actors ‘underline’ every emotion, so makers of web shows or films don’t want them. I believe it depends on the actor’s calibre,” he shares.

The difference between TV and the web, Khan feels, is the way which the audience views both. “When I do TV, I understand people are watching us while having dinner and walking in and out of the kitchen. Hence, I need to underline every emotion and repeat myself. But people watch a web show in their personal space, hence, they put in their attention,” Khan adds.

Pankaj Tripathi isn’t one to complain about a packed work schedule. It’s evident from the fact that in the last one-and-a-half year itself, he had as many as eight projects releasing one after the other. However, now, the actor confesses this tight shooting schedule has started to take a toll on him and he feels it’s time to take a pause and rest for a while.

“The packed shooting schedule becomes hectic. Personal life affect hone se zyada physical strain hota hai mujhe bahut. I feel physical rest has become important for me. Now, I feel ke thoda kam

If each one of us supports (an underprivileged) child and their education, it would be the best birthday gift for me. EIJAZ KHAN,

Actor

kaam karun, thodhi chuti rahe, so I’m trying to balance it,” Tripathi tells us.

And to ensure that, he’s trying to chalk out a plan. “Soch raha hoon next year se speed kam karun,” Tripathi says, though he’s still unsure how all that will fall into place.

Over the years, Tripathi, 44, has carved a permanent place for himself in showbiz. In fact, when the world was on a standstill in 2020, he kept going, with release of diverse projects, such as Mirzapur 2, Ludo, Extraction, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors, through OTT, while in 2021 he had Kaagaz and Mimi.

Now, he has started shooting another series in Ladakh, and will then join the

Fukrey gang for the third instalment.

“I’m not getting any break at the moment, usually I start shooting in a matter of threefour days,” says the actor, who’s awaiting the release of two films, including ’83.

What motivates him to push his limits is the love and appreciation he gets from the audience. “Recently, I met some officials from the Army and CISF in Ladakh, and the way they were treating and praising me left me emotional. I never thought that they’d know me,” says the actor, adding that he feels humbled by all the acclaim that is coming his way.

“All these years, I’ve only worked with honesty, with no gimmick. I never thought that

I’d get so much love. Mujhe samajh nahi aata ke itni mohabbat kaise lautaunga. As an actor, I can only give back through my work, something which resonates with them,” avers Tripathi, who adds he’s honoured to get the Diversity in Cinema award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). In an actor’s career, every award comes with huge meaning and relevance, shares the actor.

“From diversity to cinema to an international platform, the award has so many things which makes it special. We always want our work to be watched and appreciated by all. And abhineta ko jitna bhi pyaar, saman aur paisa miley hamesha kum hi lagta hai,” he concludes.

PHOTO: AALOK SONI /HT