Pankaj Tripathi has kept a low profile in the year so far. The actor admits that staying away from the limelight was a deliberate move. “Since I was seen a lot on screen over the last two years, it was a conscious decision to take a step back. I am a low-key person. I just work and head back home. I have many projects releasing in the second half of 2023. So, I thought it is better for me to keep it low-key in the first half of the year,” Tripathi tells us.

The 46-year-old adds that with projects like Gulkanda Tales, Mirzapur season 3, OMG 2, Fukrey 3, Murder Mubarak, Father and Metro... In Dino releasing this year, “work-wise, everything is on track”. Sharing what kept him busy, the actor says that contributing towards the development of his village, Belsand (Bihar), over the last few months gave him a lot of satisfaction:

“The school where I studied was a primary school. Since it has now become secondary, it needed some work. So, the principal reached out to me. That’s how I got involved in bettering its infrastructure. I also got a solar system installed.”

Tripathi adds, “The main reason for me to get involved was to inspire the students studying there. I also helped them build a library.”

The actor feels it’s his way of staying connected to his roots. “It was important for me to contribute towards the development of my village because my life’s foundation was laid there. Whenever I get time, I head to Belsand. My parents still stay there. Last year, I supervised the planting of 500 trees in the area with the help of the local authorities. It gave me satisfaction,” he ends.

Few things give an actor as much high as a well-written script does. Pankaj Tripathi remembers being elated when he read the script of Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s Father, which has been penned by Ritesh Shah.

Considering the actor has a keen eye for stories, it says a thing or two about the script’s merit, when he states, “It’s one of the most brilliant scripts that I’ve read in the past five-six years. When I am so excited about the [material], I am sure the outcome will live up to it.”

Father is an investigative drama set against the backdrop of a dysfunctional family coming together. The unit wrapped up the shoot in Kolkata recently. As he collaborated for the first time with Malayalam actor Parvathy Thiruvothu, and Sanjana Sanghi, Tripathi says teaming up with artistes of different sensibilities leaves one richer.

“The film stars Parvathy, Sanjana, actor Jaya Ahsan from Dhaka, and a lot of new artistes. It’s [joyful] to have artistes of different industries and regions come together.”

A collaboration with Chowdhury was on his wish-list ever since he saw the director’s Pink (2016). He describes the union as “magical”. “I had such a good time working with Tony da that I didn’t even realise when the shooting finished. The film is a father-daughter story; it explores their bond and how far they can go for each other,” says the actor, who plays father to Sanghi.