It was an extremely “happy yet emotional” moment for actor Pankaj Tripathi, who was in the city to receive his second National Award, Best Supporting Actor for Mimi (2021). The actor calls it a moment that he will always hold close to his heart. “My daughter (Aashi) couldn’t come when I won a National Award for Newton (2017), but this time, her school was shut, so we brought her along. And my wife (Mridula) was the happiest to see me on that stage yet again,” shares Tripathi.

The 47-year-old recalls meeting fellow winners, including actors Kriti Sanon (his Mimi co-star who received the National Film Award for Best Actress), Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor and Allu Arjun, among others. “Everyone said, ‘Your success feels very personal’. I felt very emotional that as an actor I’ve been able to forge such a strong connection of love with my audiences. And it is not only because of my roles and acting. The life I lead has a huge role to play here,” he says.

While Tripathi has won several awards in his career, winning a National Award is always special, he insists. “Inki apni alag garima hai. It’s not organised by any company and there’s no ‘this presents, that presents’. It’s only government presents, so woh ek alag feeling hoti hai. I don’t get emotional on winning any other award, but a National Award is different,” he wraps up.

Before heading back to Mumbai, the actor paid a quick visit to his guruji at Harijan Sevak Sangh, Gandhi Ashram. “Aur main aaj yahan 20 saal pehle ke Pankaj Tripathi se milne aaya tha. I postponed my flight by an hour because I wanted to meet Prasanna sir, our teacher from National School of Drama (NSD). I’m in touch with most of my teachers and feel fortunate to have met people who have shaped me into the person I am,” shares Tripathi, who moved to Mumbai exactly 19 years ago (October 16, 2004).