Content-driven films give actors ample scope, feels Pankaj

Riding high on the success of his latest films, Bareilly Ki Barfi and Newton, Pankaj Tripathi is happy with the way Hindi film industry is evolving. According to the actor, the focus on content driven films has opened up opportunities for actors to perform, especially when they want to experiment with different characters. “Earlier actors, like us, were treated as side or stock characters. The father of the heroine would come in one of the scenes and say ‘Yeh shaadi nahi ho sakti’ and his role would be limited. But now Bareilly Ki Barfi is incomplete without the father, and he has more scope to perform. That’s what is changing. Otherwise actors, like us, would have continued doing clichéd roles and getting stereotyped; and feel frustrated at the end of the day,” he says. Tripathi shares how he witnessed this change in Bollywood. “When I began my journey, Bollywood used to churn out these actor-centric films. But soon, new directors, who stressed more on the content, be it Anurag Kashyap or Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, started coming into prominence. Also, I feel the audience started changing, and wanted something more than the regular stuff.” The actor adds, “I have tried my hand at various things in life – from [joining] politics, and selling shoes to even going to jail. I take reference from my life to add something new to every role I portray.”

New directors, who stress more on content, have started to come into prominence. Now, the audience also seeks variety PANKAJ TRIPATHI, ACTOR

PHOTO: WASEEM GASHROO/HT