Pankaj loves to cook up a storm

For actor Pankaj Tripathi, it is the simple pleasures of life that matter. After a long day at work, having a heartening chat with his wife and cooking soul food is what de-stresses him. He is wellversed with a diverse array of dishes and cuisines but it is Indian fare which is his forte. A source says, “Home cooked food is his weakness and he makes a mean litti-chokha (a Bihari dish). Cooking for him is also the finest way of unwinding. Because the nature of his job is such that he rarely gets free time, the actor likes to take to the kitchen to cook and de-stress. Cooking is both a passion and hobby for him and he takes a keen interest in getting inventive with dishes.”

Talking about his love for cooking, Pankaj says, “Cooking has always had a calming effect on me. After work drains me out, I find solace in making meals for me and my family. I also read up a lot about dishes and recipes but the art of loving food comes from my mother and grandmother.”

He adds, “Cooking also helps me connect with my family at the dinner table. When you make something with such warmth for people you love, you also tell them that you value them. They are important to you. This is my way of connecting with my family and spoiling them . Sometimes they are my guinea pigs too but I am rarely awful and they’ve survived every meal so far (chuckles).”

Cooking has always had a calming effect on me. After work drains me out, I find solace in making meals for me and my family. PANKAJ TRIPATHI, ACTOR