While the ’90s were called the era of loud slapstick humour, the last few years have seen a huge change in the quality of comedy in films. With a number of deft actors in films, the landscape of comedy has changed.

And one of those actors is Pankaj Tripathi, who has proved his acting prowess with dramatic and comic roles. At times, even if he had limited screen time, he managed to leave a crucial impact in the films he featured in, and has brought a change in how the industry views comedy. A source says, “For instance, in films like Bareilly ki Barfi (2017) and Nil Battey Sannata (2015), Tripathi’s characters had a humorous undertone but commands respect. The actor has been systematically redefining the genre, sans loud laughs or action. He is known for creating comedy with subtle body language and playing around correct timing of comedy with minimal required expressions. In an industry that’s waking up to recognise his charisma as an actor, writers are writing comedy scenes keeping him in mind.” 

Talking about comic roles and films, the actor says, “Every piece of work has to make a point. That’s the whole point of art. Though ’90s fare had a certain brand of comedy, the new age films demand that we poke fun more responsibly and make comedy say something effective. In such a scenario, comedy films have to offer more than just laughs and fun. Similarly, actors are expected to bring more to the table. I am glad I got the chance to do some memorable comedies such as Stree (2018), Fukrey franchisee, among others. Now that was a new-age fun film where the endeavour was to be more than simply funny. I hope to do more of such films that make one laugh but where jokes are not limited to hand gestures or funny faces. There is a larger theme and point to be made.”