Showing posts with label Pankaj Tripathi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pankaj Tripathi. Show all posts
Pankaj Tripathi flies to Patna to be with brother after alleged attack
9:22 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; June 23, 2026)
Pankaj Tripathi landed in Patna on Monday morning (June 22) to be by his brother’s (Vijendranath Tiwari) side after the latter was allegedly attacked in Bihar in connection with a land-related dispute. The incident reportedly took place on Sunday in the actor’s ancestral village of Besland in Barauli, Gopalganj district.
According to reports, Tripathi’s brother, Vijendranath Tiwari, sustained multiple injuries after being assaulted with sticks and clubs. He was initially admitted to Gopalganj Model Hospital and was later shifted to a medical facility in Patna for further treatment.
A source close to the family says, “Pankaj Tripathi landed in Patna this morning to be with his brother and will stay there for a couple of days. Vijendranath has sustained multiple injuries but is stable and under medical supervision. The accused has been arrested, and the police are looking into the matter. Right now, the family’s entire focus is on his recovery.”
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The actor’s elder brother was attacked with sharp objects and is undergoing treatment after sustaining injuries
Vishakha Pandit (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 23, 2026)
On Monday, reports emerged that actor Pankaj Tripathi’s elder brother, Vijayendranath Tripathi, was attacked with a sharp object and seriously injured in Bihar’s Gopalganj district. HT City has learnt that the actor has since reached Patna to be by his brother’s side.
A source tells us, “Pankaj has reached Patna to see his brother. He is in no condition to speak right now given the situation.” Sharing an update on Vijayendranath’s health, the source adds, “He has sustained multiple injuries. But he is stable, nothing life-threatening at this point.”
As per local police officials, the attack took place on Sunday in their ancestral village, Belsand Tiwari Tola following a dispute over land. Vijayendranath was initially admitted to Gopalganj Model Hospital late that night before being referred to a medical facility in Patna for further treatment.
Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Vinay Tiwari said that the accused has been identified, arrested and is being sent to judicial custody. He added that the family has not yet filed a written complaint.
We have started believing that we are Nature’s maalik-Pankaj Tripathi
11:27 PM
Deep Saxena (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 5, 2026)
Pankaj Tripathi is celebrated as much for his acting style as for his deeply rooted off-screen personality. Raised in the village of Belsand in Bihar, the actor’s farming background continues to shape his connection with the environment.
On World Environment Day today, the 49-year-old says the biggest reminder from Nature is simple: “We are a part of Nature, but we have started believing that we are Nature’s maalik! Jo ki sach nahin hai, aur prakriti humko jhatka dekar sachet karti rehti hai ki sudhar jao!”
Tripathi shares that his resolve to minimise his carbon footprint came during the filming of Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga (2022) on location in jungles. Now, he has made it a part of his daily routine.
“During my entire schedule, I cook my own food in vanity — dal, chawal, aur sabji dalkar khichdi — and treat my fellow actors, too. I use steel tiffin and bottle, store water in an earthen pot, and avoid plastic as much as possible. I avoid branded clothes, except when playing a character, and prefer wearing khadi, handloom and handicraft clothes,” he says.
While he admits that one person can only make a little bit of a difference, Tripathi insists that it is a starting point: “My team and people around me take inspiration. If we all start individually, change will surely happen. I have very high hopes for our younger generation.”
My bank balance does make me feel like a star-Pankaj Tripathi
8:52 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; May 19, 2026)
For Pankaj Tripathi, stardom isn’t about constantly being seen; it’s about being remembered. In a conversation with us, the actor, who has been keeping a low profile lately, reflects on fame, stepping back from work and finding solitude.
‘Brands don’t approach good actors, they approach stars’
About his personal definition of being a star, Pankaj, who sat for a fireside chat about stardom at WPP Media’s BREW 2026, says, “For me, it is basically people’s love, affection and brand endorsements. Because brands don’t approach you unless you are a star. They don’t approach just good actors, brands approach stars. So that is one definition as per the market, but for me, stardom means connection, trust and love from the audience.”
When asked whether he considers himself a star today, he smiles and says, “I think my bank account feels that way, but I don’t.”
Reflecting on whether he ever aspired to become a star, he explained, “For stardom, popularity is important. But along with popularity, one should also be memorable. People should remember your work. One shouldn’t just be popular – even infamy brings popularity. Naam ho, but naam memorable ho. I never tried to be popular, but I have definitely tried to be memorable.”
‘When you are in solitude, you meet yourself’
Pankaj, who had earlier spoken about wanting to slow down professionally, reveals that his break from work is still ongoing. “It has been a good break. I’m still on one. I’m listening to stories and listening to my heart. I don’t want to do too much now. If I do two films a year, that’s enough for me. I’m spending a lot of time by myself. When you are in solitude, you meet yourself, not anyone else. That’s the phase I’m in right now – meeting myself,” he shares.
Asked what he has discovered about himself during this phase, he jokes, “That I won’t tell you. Later, I’ll sell it in a book for Rs. 399.”
He adds, “You cannot describe discovery. What you explore within yourself cannot be expressed so easily. Wisdom is difficult to explain. It’s like learning how to ride a bicycle – you don’t know exactly when you learnt it; one day, it just happens. What I have realized is that my knowledge is limited. So now I shouldn’t give too much gyaan and I shouldn’t do a podcast!”
‘I want to stay out of sight’
During his break, did he ever fear being out of sight, out of mind? He replies, “No, not at all. I want to stay out of sight. Even stars in the sky disappear for hours. Even the moon vanishes for fifteen days and then returns. It’s important not to be available everywhere, every day. You cannot appear in every paparazzi video, waving at people all the time,” he explains.
Elaborating further, he says, “The ones who want to remain constantly discussed will find it difficult to go out of sight because discussions keep them alive. But memorable people remain alive regardless.”
Stree 3 in the making?
On a final note, when asked about Stree 3 and when it will go on the floors, he replies, “Director Amar Kaushik is the right person to talk about Stree 3. He is writing it right now, but they are currently busy with another film. So even I’m not sure about when Stree 3 will happen.”
I don't even have 8 hit films in 32 years. Doesn't my being here negate this language of trade and box office?-Manoj Bajpayee
10:28 AM
Anshul Chaturvedi (BOMBAY TIMES; March 31, 2026)
Manoj Bajpayee was in Delhi for a session at the IFFD (International Film Festival of Delhi). When an alumnus of Ramjas College, talks about cinema, in Delhi, a throwback is inevitable – the journey to come to Delhi to learn acting from his village in Bihar at 18, a lifetime back. The struggle, the uncertainty, and the 32 long years spent in an industry, that he strongly feels, is too star-centric. That industry, along with a media and the audience that is too star-struck, just does not give many talented actors their due in time, he rues. Not wistfully, but angrily. Anger about the years lost before they are given their due. About the discrepancy in money and stature – ‘second-class citizens’, he calls them. About the fixation of evaluating movies, and actors, basis their box office numbers. Read on to see the otherwise gentle Family Man in unchecked Shool mode:
Back in 2012, when you were in Cannes for the premiere of Gangs of Wasseypur, you had told me, ‘Indian media hamari baat nahi karta hai. Aaj ka media baat karta hai ki stars ne kaun se kapde pehne.’ You and Nawazuddin were saying that the stage that star kids reach with their debut – multicrore films, producers chasing you – you don’t reach that in many many years. I had asked you, 'aapko nahi lagta samay aapke haath se nikla ja raha hai?’ To which you had said something that has stayed with me:
‘Badi lambi ladai hai hamare liye - khud se bhi hoti hai, poora system lad raha hota hai. Ya toh khaane ko le kar jaddojahad hai, ya jo logon ke perceptions ban jaate hain hamare baare mein, usko le kar jaddojahad hai, hum apni jagah banana chahte hain, uski jaddojahad hai. A lot of our energy, which should have gone to our craft, instead goes into these fights. By the time people want to use your talent in the right way, tab tak bada late ho chuka hota hai. Like I am a very desperate man right now. I want to work with all the fantastic filmmakers. Mujhe lagta hai, mera samay nikla jaa rahaa hai, jaldi karo, jaldi karo...Yeh samay kyun nikla? Kyunki hum bina matlab ke jaddojahad me phanse reh gaye.’
How do you feel about that sentiment now?
I am at a stage when a lot of roles are physically not possible for me. Or I will not be able to do a mentally exhausting role - iss dar se ki kya main isko survive kar paunga? Kya koi ghatna toh nahi ghat jayegi. Kanu Behl hamare Hindustan ka ek bahut hi pahuncha hua filmmaker hai. Zyada log usko tavajjo nahi dete hain kyunki Rs 1,000 crore ki film nahi banayi hai usne. Lekin uss generation mein bahut hi kam brilliant, international level ka jise kahein, woh director hai Kanu Behl. I did Despatch (2024) with him, jo mujhe lagta hai meri behtareen film aur behtareen performance mein se hai. After that, he came to me with another story, but I told him, 'Kanu, kaash ki main 30-40 ki umr mein hota, toh teri film zaroor karta'. Kyunki Kanu ka apna ek process hai jismein aadmi bahut thak jata hai, mentally aur physically. Bahut demanding hoti hai uski direction. Mujhe afsos iss baat ka hai ki main uss umr mein nahi hoon ki main Kanu Behl ki film kar paoon. Late isliye hua. Late hua hai. Aur bahut late hua hai.
Uska karan sabse bada ye raha hai ki media aur darshak dono hi busy rahe stars ko celebrate karne mein. They don't care that a very talented Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been 15 years late in his career. No one cares that it's late for a Pankaj Tripathi. They got the respect and recognition so late - by then they can't do a lot of roles. But the good thing is that at least jab bhi woh aaye - aapne unke talent ko pehchana. Lekin, yakeen maaniye late ho gaya. Agar woh 25 saal ki umr mein ya 30 saal ki umr mein unko woh pehchan ya maanyata mili hoti toh bahut saare roles thay joh woh kar sakte thay. Ab uss age category mein woh log rahe nahin.
Hamare Hindustan mein talent ko kabhi celebrate hi nahi kiya gaya. If you go on social media now, you'll see that the films that are doing well - no one is talking about the performances in them, or the director's brilliant craft. What are we talking about? Today the film crossed Rs 100 crore - kal 150 ho jayega, koi dusra kehta hai nahi, 200 ho jayega. Films are celebrated as numbers or that actor's hairstyle was so good or who wore which designer. Hum log filmon ke baare mein ya kisi bhi kaam ko lekar ke - hum na talent ki baat karte hain, na craft ki baat karte hain. Humne apne aap ko ek darshak ke taur pe - ek media ke taur pe usi daayre mein rakha hai.
If box office numbers are so amazing that they decide everything... I've been in this industry for 32 years. I don't even have 8 hit films in these 32 years. So how am I here? Doesn't my being here negate this language of trade and box office? 8 filmein bhi hit nahi hai meri - Satya se le kar ke ab tak. Toh box office number kitne valid hote hain? Kahin na kahin darshakon ko ya filmmakers ko Manoj Bajpayee chahiye tha. Unke karan maine unki filmon mein kaam kiya.
Anurag Kashyap didn't take me in Gangs Of Wasseypur after seeing box office numbers. Meri kaabiliyat dekh ke liya tha usne. Ram Gopal Verma ke paas jab mujhe Satya mili thi tab dar-dar bhatakne wala ek actor tha main. Kabhi kisi serial ke episode mein dikh jata tha ya kisi actor ya producer ke darwaze pe dikhta tha.
The way we have started celebrating box office numbers - it not a sign of a good film industry. If I give a story, a script to a trade journalist and ask kitne hazar crore ka ya kitne 100 crore ka collection ye film karegi? No one will be able to tell. Ye sab batane lagte hain jab film lag jati hai. Iska matlab ye hai ki sab mithya hai. Ye sab bakwas hai. When the audience starts changing - the films will start changing.
So if a film is recognized and celebrated based on how much money it makes, an artiste’s stature is also recognized by how much money they command. Back then, you had shared that actors like you - the people you named earlier - the problem you face is that when you are cast in a big budget film, you get a side role, so you don't get big money. And when films cast you in the lead role, the people making it do not have big money. So either way - paisa nahi aata. Is that still the same or has anything changed?
Nothing has changed. Ek hero ne bahut achhi baat mujhse kahi thi - main naam nahi lunga. Maine kaha - bhai, aap bahut secure actor ho, yaar. Toh unhone kaha tha - yaar, bahut seedhi si baat hai. Tu bahut badhiya kaam kar raha hai. Lekin agar film hit ho gayi toh tere Rs 400 badhenge aur mere Rs 4 lakh badhenge. Toh aap samajh sakte hain hum kahan par hain?
Isi system se ladai karte hue mujhe itne saal ho gaye hain. I say it with a lot of pride that I got a lot of films, big films, but I said no to them because they treated those doing secondary roles as secondary citizens. Whether it is about the level of amenities or the level of pay.
That was my fight. That's why I tried that either I don't say yes to multi-starrer or if I do them, I make sure that the amenities that the others are getting, I also get the same. Self-respecting aadmi hoon.
In this tale of your struggle, I think a defining moment was the film 1971. You had told me earlier: 'Isko dekhne ke baad Anurag Kashyap ne aur mere bahut saare doston ne kaha ki this was the best film on the Army they had seen. Aur uske baad na uss film ki tickets sell hoti hain, na uss ko kisi awards function mein koi tarjeem di jaati hai toh bahut... I wouldn't say it broke me, but yes, it taught me a big lesson. Ki yaar agar ab kuch bhi karna pade, naachna pade Juhu Circle pe jaa kar toh woh bhi karenge, humko compete toh karna hi padega... Humari jaisi film ki koi jaankari nahi milti hai public ko, aur nah hi woh jankari lene ke liye kahi jayenge.'
It is very difficult for small films to compete in this industry. Chhoti filmein achha bhi kar rahi hoti hain toh unke shows ghata diye jaate hain. Meri apni film - Aligarh ho, Bhonsle ho, Gali Guleiyan ho - main khud dekhne nahi jaunga subah 9 baje. Toh main audience se kaise expect karunga ki jo exhibitor ne time diya hai 9 baje ka meri chhoti si film ko - woh audience dekhne jayegi?
Ye jo pura system hai - it is so flawed. And it is so dominated by hierarchy - ki ismein compete karna bahut mushkil kaam hota hai. Lekin mere bahut saare aise actors dost hain - unko jab main ye kehta hoon ki tum ye sab ladai lado toh kehte hain ki sir, hum log aapki terah nahi hain na.
Lekin main isliye ladta hoon kyunki main gaon se aaya tha. Aur main saara samaan le kar aaya tha toh ab wapis ja bhi nahi sakta hoon. I have no other option in my mind, but to fight - fight to survive, fight to showcase my talent.
Post COVID - ye pura system jo hai woh hil gaya hai, uske foundation hil gaye hain, power centre hil gaya hai industry mein.
Coming back to your first thing - lekin hamare liye toh late ho gaya na! Lekin saath hi saath main ye dekhta hoon ki kitne saare talent iss industry ne barbaad kar diye - some of them became alcoholic, some of them ended their lives.
When I look at all of that - I feel blessed and grateful ki at least upar wale ne, darshakon ne aur kuch ek directors ne mujhe woh jagah di jiska phal mujhe mil raha hai. Mujhe ek position diya - so, I feel grateful about it.
Talking about 1971, uski journey jo hai bahut hi inspiring hai. When the film released, the distributor couldn't even put up a poster outside any cinema hall. Aur mera manana hai, ya aap Anurag Kashyap se ja kar bhi puchhiye, jin logon ne bhi film dekhi thi uss samay - unhone kaha tha ye Hindustan mein banne wali best Army film hai.
But the film met a terrible fate. When we went to promote it, we were told there's no one in the theatre, so if you sell the tickets, people might buy.
If you are in this profession, toh haar maan kar kya kar loge? Kaun aap ke sar pe haath rakhega? Haar maan liya toh iska matlab jaiye phir!
But that is not the option. The option is to be here, and to keep fighting, to keep fighting to do good work.
That fight was, however, difficult for your director right?
After 1971, the film's director (Amrit Sagar) went into depression. When the National Award submission was announced, I was at a party in Delhi. An official told me Manoj ji aapki koi film hai toh bhej do submission ke liye. When I called the director, he said, 'mujhse aage se aise mazak mat karna yaar!' Daant diya usne mujhe woh itne depression mein tha. Maine uske father ko keh kar ke film ko submit karaya. When 1971 got two National Awards (Best Film and Best Audiography in 2007), maine apne director ko phone kiya toh woh rone laga gusse mein - ki tu mere saath itna bura mazak kyun kar raha hai. Sochiye aap kitna toot chuka tha woh!
During the pandemic, he called and said, '1971 ko toh koi dekh nahi paya. Isko hum log YouTube par daal de?' Usne creative bheja, maine khud daala, usko promote kiya. It became the first digital blockbuster (in India). 50 million views in no time. No time.
That proves that there is a lacuna in the system. There is a flaw in the system where we don't celebrate, we don't promote good work. We don't.
Personal level pe, individual level pe, media ka ek-ek aadmi, audience ka ek-ek jagrook aadmi decide karta hai toh woh bahut kuch badal sakta hai.
Akele actor aur creative log nahi badal sakte hain. Woh ek hi cheez kar sakte hain - tikey rahein.
Lekin, main aapk bataoon hum yahan tike hue hain. With or without your support, with or without your best wishes - hum tike hue hain. I am personally here - even after 32 years. I am here - working, fighting and fighting to do the work - all the time.
Sonal Chauhan to feature in dance number Mirzapur: The Movie on the lines of Sholay's Mehbooba Mehbooba
8:32 AM
‘Mirzapur: The Movie’ actors Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, and Divyenndu join Sonal Chauhan to shoot a dance number, along the lines of ‘Sholay’ chartbuster ‘Mehbooba Mehbooba’
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 21, 2026)
When crafting a full-blown action spectacle, it’s not surprising for a filmmaker to take inspiration from Hindi cinema’s most enduring movie, Sholay (1975). Gurmmeet Singh would agree. After all, the director, who is readying Mirzapur: The Movie for the big screen, has created a dance number along the lines of Mehbooba Mehbooba, which featured late Amjad Khan and Helen. Pankaj Tripathi aka Kaleen bhaiyya, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, Jitendra Kumar, Abhishek Banerjee, and Ravi Kishan feature in the track that has Sonal Chauhan at the centre.
We’ve heard that the unit filmed the track in Jodhpur last month. Tripathi’s Kaleen bhaiyya may be more skilled with guns than with dance moves, but it turns out producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani were certain that such a song would only amp the sequence.
A source told mid-day, “Sonal Chauhan has performed the item song against a desert backdrop. The mood is such that Kaleen bhaiyya and the other characters are having fun at a rural bar where she is shaking a leg, and eventually they all join in the revelry. Tents were put up across the deserts of Jodhpur, where the song was shot over three nights.”
Mirzapur: The Movie’s soundtrack has been composed by Khandal and Junaid Kumar, while Vijay Ganguly choreographed the dance number.
The source added, “Pankaj is not known to dance much, but he enjoyed shaking a leg. Whatever he does, he does with great satisfaction.”
I did think I’d get more offers in Bollywood after Raavan-Priyamani
8:34 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; March 18, 2026)
With web shows like The Family Man and The Good Wife, Priya Mani Raj has found a renewed connection with audiences across India. While she has long been a well-known name in the South, the digital space has helped her reach a wider, pan-India audience. Yet, her journey with Hindi cinema began much earlier — with Mani Ratnam’s Raavan.
When asked if she had high expectations from her Bollywood debut, she says, “Yes, I did. I was brought up watching Hindi films, so when I got an offer to do the Hindi version of Raavan, I was thrilled. I got to act with Abhishek Bachchan and so many wonderful actors like Ravi Kishan and Pankaj Tripathi. I was very happy. I didn’t have scenes with Aishwarya, but I met her during promotions, and she was so warm.”
She adds, “Honestly, I did think I’d get more offers after that. But I was quite selective. I got some offers that I liked and some I wasn’t convinced about, so I just kept them at bay. I wasn’t disappointed because I had my plate full with South films anyway.”
‘NOBODY IS PERFECT WHEN THEY START OUT’
Opening up about her initial journey, Priya Mani reflects on how she learned the ropes without any guidance.
She says, “When I look back at my old pictures or films, I’m like, ‘Why was I like this?’ But it’s a learning process. Nobody is perfect when they start out. Back then, I didn’t even know what grooming meant. I was 18 when I started out, and no one in my family was from the industry. I didn’t have a godfather to guide me, so I went with my instinct. I still do. I didn’t know you could have a personal makeup artist, a hairstylist, or even someone called a stylist,” she laughs, adding, “My peers had friends styling for them, and I just figured things out on my own.”
It was much later, she says, that she began to understand the importance of self-care. “It was only around 2011 or 2012 that I realised you could actually hire a stylist or get a designer to put things together for you. And after I started dating Mustafa (her husband), I learned to invest in myself — to look good, go for a manicure or pedicure, take care of myself, and look presentable,” signs off the Jawan actress.
Jo peeche baithe hain unhe uthana hai aur mainstream mein lana hai-Pankaj Tripathi
4:37 PM
Sara Siddiqui (BOMBAY TIMES; February 27, 2026)
Amid chants of “Pankaj bhaiya”, Day 2 saw a packed stadium eagerly waiting for Pankaj Tripathi, who arrived late but made up for it with his wit. In conversation with theatre director Santanu Bose, he shared humorous anecdotes and kept students engaged during his session titled Nautanki. As students shouted “Kaleen bhaiya” – his character from Mirzapur – in response to the moderator’s question about his favourite role, he laughed, “Arre usse bhi achche achche kaam kiye hain!” He said his personal favourites are characters from Masaan, Newton, Criminal Justice and Gunjan Saxena, which he feels reflect his own personality.
Addressing the students of DU, Pankaj said, “Bhool toh nahi gaye hamein? Mera khud ka sapna tha ki DU mein admission mil jaaye par mere number achhe nahi thay. Toh NSD mein mil gaya. Main bhagyshali hoon ki saahitya utsav mein nimantran mila hai. Koshish karenge ki kuch prerna de aapko. Aapki umar aisi hai ki prem aur prerna ki badi zarurat hoti hai.”
‘Jo peeche baithe hain unhe uthana hai aur mainstream mein lana hai’
The actor’s journey from Bihar to Delhi and then Mumbai has inspired many. “Mujhe chinta hamesha uski hoti hai jo line mein peeche hota hai. Jo aage baithe hain woh privileged hain, jo peeche baithe hain unhe uthana hai aur mainstream mein laana hai. Jaise ki hum kataar mein bahut peeche thay,” he noted.
When asked about his next project, students from the crowd responded on his behalf, prompting him to quip, “Inn logon ko yaad hai, mujhe toh yaad bhi nahi. Lekin yeh batao, imtehan kab hai tumhara?”
‘Jab bhi life mein conflict aaye, samjhna ki woh situation kuch sikhane aaya hai’
Pankaj named late actors Om Puri and Irrfan, along with fellow actor Manoj Bajpayee, as his inspirations. “Manoj bhaiya ki journey se inspire huye ki nadi ke uss paar ka ladka abhineta ban sakta hai toh iss paar ka bhi ban sakta hai. Hamari nadi ke uss paar tak koi pul nahi tha. Toh usme insaan ya toh complain karta hai ki suvidhaaye nahi hain ya phir tairna seekh jaata hai. Jab bhi life mein conflict aaye toh samjhna ki woh situation kuch sikhane aaya hai, ek behtar insan banane aaya hai,” he said.
‘Gen Z bahut aage hai’
He also delighted the audience by using the popular Gen Z slang “delulu” when asked to share a message for the generation, adding, “Koi sandesh nahi hai, aap log bahut aage hain.”
Speaking about playing negative roles, he said, “Koi sirf acha hai ya sirf bura hai, aisa nahi hai. Main duniya ko waise nahi dekh paata hoon. Mujhe har bure vyakti mein kuch achhai dikh jaati hai. Bahut human cheez hai. Main bure kirdaaron ko bhi uss tareeke se dekhta hoon.”
In politics and cinema, there are no permanent enemies-Priyadarshan
9:49 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; February 26, 2026)
Filmmaker Priyadarshan, known for some of Hindi cinema’s most loved comedies, is clear about what he concerns himself with – making films and moving on. In a chat with us, he addressed rumours around his films, the culture of sequels and what excites him about his current slate of work.
‘Bhooth Bangla was never supposed to be Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’
The release of his next film, Bhooth Bangla, headlined by Akshay Kumar, has been brought ahead, and it will now arrive in cinemas in April. Talking about it, Priyadarshan says, “I have no idea why that was done. It was entirely the decision of the makers (Akshay Kumar, Ektaa Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor). As far as I’m concerned, the film is ready. We were originally planning to release it in May, but the makers said that some big films were releasing at that time. Then suddenly, I got a call from Ektaa asking if we could release it earlier. I said okay because once I am done with the film, I don’t get involved in those matters.”
Recently, speculation suggested that Bhooth Bangla may have once been conceived as a sequel to Bhool Bhulaiyaa (directed by him and starring Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan), but the filmmaker dismisses that outright. “This is not true because neither I nor the producer (Bhushan Kumar) discussed a second part,” he says.
‘Saif has so many questions to ask on set’
Priyadarshan also spoke warmly about directing Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and Paresh Rawal in his upcoming film, Haiwaan. “Akshay, of course, is someone I’ve known for years. But this is the first time I’m working with Saif. He is so committed to what he does, and I enjoyed working with him. He comes to the set with so many questions, always wanting to understand every detail. So we’ve developed a great equation — I answer, and he keeps asking,” he laughs.
‘Hera Pheri 3 is not going on floors this year’
On the long-running string of controversies surrounding Hera Pheri 3, Priyadarshan says the project is entangled in disputes over franchise and music rights. The third instalment recently ran into fresh legal trouble after producer G P Vijayakumar approached the Madras High Court, claiming that he – and not Firoz Nadiadwala – holds the copyright to the franchise.
“There are a lot of complications around that. Even when part three was announced, certain people said they have the rights to the film, while others claimed rights to the music. Even Bhushan (Kumar) published a public notice stating that the music of part three belongs to his label. So there are many complications that need to be sorted out. Only then can we think about part three,” he says. So will the film go on floors this year? “Definitely not this year,” he says.
Many months ago, Priyadarshan had also spoken about his disappointment when Paresh Rawal decided to walk out of Hera Pheri 3 without informing him. After the friction surrounding Rawal’s initial departure was smoothed over, he returned to the project.
Addressing the current state of their relationship, the filmmaker said, “We have nothing against each other. I’ve been working with him for a long time. In the film industry, if you share a good relationship with someone, it endures. I’ve also seen people fall out and then work together again. I don’t think there are permanent enemies in politics or cinema.”
‘I was offered to direct the Bhagam Bhag sequel’
While he remains uncertain about Hera Pheri 3, one of his other films, Bhagam Bhag, is getting a sequel. Priyadarshan has consistently expressed his disinterest in sequels, viewing them as attempts to extend the goodwill of the original.
“I’m never interested in making sequels because I feel that once the first film ends, the next one often tries to capitalize on its goodwill. None of my films have been made into sequels by me. If others want to make sequels, I have no objection. But I always believe the first is the best,” he says.
Revealing that he was offered to direct the sequel to Bhagam Bhag, the filmmaker says “They asked me to direct it, but I said no because I wasn’t interested... When discussions about the sequel began, Akshay informed me that he was doing the film. I told him, ‘Go ahead and do it. I have no problem with that.’”
The film will reportedly see Manoj Bajpayee replacing Govinda. On this development, he says, “I have no idea what they are doing or what the subject is.”
What excites him, however, is his next project with Pankaj Tripathi. While he remains guarded about the details, he confirms that it is a full-fledged comedy. “I don’t want to reveal much about it. It’s a film starting in June and is an out-and-out comedy,” he says.
Priyadarshan on Rajpal Yadav's arrest: "He fell for the wrong advice"
10:27 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; February 15, 2026)
Director Priyadarshan addresses Rajpal Yadav’s recent legal trouble, after the actor was jailed in a case related to unpaid debts. The filmmaker said he was aware that Yadav had been dealing with financial strain but chose not to discuss it publicly.
Speaking about their last conversation and Yadav’s situation, Priyadarshan who’s first film with the actor was Malamaal Weekly (2006), shared, “We never spoke a lot about all these issues, but I knew about the problem. He told me he is repaying the debt as the money comes in.”
Priyadarshan said, “Rajpal is in my films, Bhooth Bangla, Haiwaan, and in my next with Pankaj Tripathi. I have even asked the producers of that film to up his remuneration so that will help the situation. That’s the best thing we can do for him at this point.”
When asked if he ever tried guiding Yadav financially, the director admitted he doesn’t consider himself qualified to advise on investments. “No. Even I am bad at investing money, so I am in no place to advise someone. Sometimes people give you wrong advice, and I believe Rajpal fell for that. Once the damage is done, you somehow have to get out of it,” he said.
Priyadarshan also clarified that Yadav did not reach out to him before his jail term. “He never called me because I have sent him the shoot dates. That’s all I remember. And he said, ‘I’m doing the film’. Then all this happened,” he shared.
On a parting note, the filmmaker expressed hope that the situation resolves and that Yadav returns to work. “I hope he is released soon. I have a very good role for him. It will be difficult for me to get someone to replace him because I kept him in my mind and wrote the part,” he said.
Yadav surrendered in Tihar Jail on February 5 after the Delhi HC declined to grant him more time in long-pending cheque bounce cases. According to Yadav’s lawyer Bhaskar Upadhyay, the actor has paid Rs 2.5 crore in the Rs 9-crore cheque bounce-case.
Priyadarshan to release his memoir with his 100th film, which reunites him with Mohanlal
3:15 PM
Currently writing his memoir, Priyadarshan plans to coincide its release with his 100th movie that will reunite him with his first hero, Mohanlal
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 24, 2026)
We suspect Priyadarshan has 30 hours in a day. In 2025, the filmmaker wrapped up two movies, Bhooth Bangla and Haiwaan. Now, he has revealed to mid-day that he also squeezed in the time to write his autobiography. The filmmaker plans to release his memoir in 2027, coinciding with a career landmark.
“I am writing, shooting, and writing again. I have completed my 97th movie, Haiwaan, starring Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar. The 98th will be with Pankaj Tripathi, Annu Kapoor, and Saurabh Shukla. I want to complete my memoir by 2027 as I should wrap up my 100th film by then,” he told us over a call.
The star of the yet-untitled autobiography will obviously be Priyadarshan and his rich career spanning over four decades. That said, another superstar, Mohanlal, will take pride of place in the book. After all, the Malayalam actor had fronted his directorial debut, Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984), and in a serendipitous turn of events, he will lead the director’s 100th outing too. The decades in between have seen the two friends collaborate multiple times.
Priyadarshan elaborated, “Mohanlal was the hero of my first film. I want to end my book with the last chapter on him. I think it’s the first time in the history of Indian cinema that an actor, who did a director’s first film, is also the hero of his 100th.”
Looking back at his life, the memoir will span his childhood, his entry into films as a screenwriter, and his rise as a director with three National Film Awards and multiple hits to credit. “I started my career at 19; I wrote my first Malayalam movie Kuyiline Thedi [1983]. Before that, I was a ghost writer for a couple of films,” he recalled.
“The book will also cover everyone I have worked with or met — from R D Burman to Rajesh Khanna, from Dev Anand to Akshay Kumar and Rajinikanth. I have met so many legends in the last 40 years.”
I am not a part of Bhagam Bhag 2. My next movie stars Pankaj Tripathi-Priyadarshan
9:46 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 15, 2025)
When Paresh Rawal had briefly exited Hera Pheri 3, many on the internet felt Pankaj Tripathi would be a good fit for the role. Well, even as everyone’s happy that Rawal has returned to Hera Pheri 3, it looks like the internet was on to something. Filmmaker Priyadarshan is teaming up with Tripathi for another film.
With this, the actor-director duo will reunite after Aakrosh (2010), in which Tripathi played a hitman. “It’s been over 15 years,” exclaimed the National Award-winning filmmaker.
In his yet-untitled next, the actor will play a lovable, comic character. He will be joined by two actors, said Priyadarshan, who recently wrapped up the shoot of Haiwaan, starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. “It will be an all-out comedy like Hungama [2003] or Hera Pheri [2000], with Pankaj as the pivotal character. He is one of the finest actors we have today and it will be a pleasure working with him again. I am currently writing the story and once that is finalised, I will approach the other two actors,” he told mid-day.
The director will have two releases in 2026 — Bhooth Bangla, a supernatural thriller starring Akshay Kumar, Tabu, and Wamiqa Gabbi, and the action thriller Haiwaan. If things go as planned, he will take the comedy on floors by the summer. “I will begin shooting for Pankaj’s movie from May, after these two movies release. It’s refreshing to write a comedy after so many years as I recently helmed an action movie and a psychological thriller.”
But wasn’t he planning to take a short break after Haiwaan’s completion? The director laughed as he admitted, “You know I cannot stay idle for long. I had this story in mind, and narrated it to Pankaj, who liked it. So, I started writing it.”
A sequel to Priyadarshan’s hit comedy ‘Bhagam Bhag’ (2006) is in the works. While Akshay Kumar and Akshaye Khanna are rumoured to star in ‘Bhagam Bhag 2’, Priyadarshan told mid-day, “I am not a part of it. My next movie [to be shot in 2026] is the Pankaj Tripathi-starrer.” Reports suggest that Raaj Shaandilyaa of ‘Dream Girl 2’ (2023) fame will helm it.
Pankaj Tripathi on planning second season of Perfect Family: "Encouragement from viewers motivated us"
9:44 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 10, 2025)
Attribute it to beginner’s luck or Pankaj Tripathi’s knack for finding meaningful stories, but the actor’s maiden production Perfect Family has become widely popular. Buoyed by the response to the Gulshan Devaiah, Girija Oak, and Neha Dhupia-led series, the makers have kicked off work on the second season.
For Tripathi, who has produced the family dramedy along with Ajay Rai, the series’ success holds immense emotional value. Confirming to mid-day that the second season is in the works, he shared,
“As this was my debut production, seeing the audience embrace the story and its message means a lot. I am happy to extend my support for the next season as well. The love and encouragement from viewers have motivated us to plan the second season, and we look forward to bringing an even more impactful chapter.”
The cast, script, and production timelines are expected to be locked by January 2026.
Revolving around a modern family that seeks therapy after the youngest member suffers a panic attack, Perfect Family is streaming on YouTube, with the first two episodes available to viewers free of cost. Bringing it to the platform over popular OTT streamers was a conscious decision, considering the show highlights the importance of mental health — a subject that, Tripathi said, should reach audiences across geographies, languages, and economic backgrounds.
“YouTube is a democratic medium, and stories should belong to everyone,” he added.
I have been working 300 days a year. Now, I want to give only 100-150 days to acting-Pankaj Tripathi
8:59 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; November 29, 2025)
Success has been Pankaj Tripathi’s steady companion over the past few years. Now, he is pursuing something more — as a new producer, he wants to tell meaningful stories. As he steps into his new role, Tripathi says the actor in him will take a backseat.
“I will take up less acting work. If I want to produce something, I won’t act for six-eight months that year. I have been working 300 days a year. Now, I want to give only 100-150 days to acting. I want to dedicate the remaining days to producing plays and other hobbies,” he tells us over a phone call.
His production dream is already being executed. While Tripathi’s first play, Lailaaj, opened in Mumbai last week, his first series, Perfect Family, premiered on YouTube on November 28. “In a year or two, we’ll do a feature film. Filmmaking is a costly medium, but I don’t want to earn a lot from it. I want to tell the stories of my heart,” he says.
Perfect Family is one such story. The series revolves around a family that is compelled to seek therapy after one of its members has an anxiety attack. “The show came to me after the shoot was done. Had producer Ajay Rai asked me to join the series as an actor, I would have, because it tells an important story,” emphasizes Tripathi.
Even as the subject of mental health has entered the public discourse in the last few years, the actor notes that it has yet to penetrate in smaller cities and towns of India. “People in villages take mental health lightly,” he says.
So did he at one point. Tripathi admits that earlier, he wasn’t an endorser of therapy. “If you had asked me three years ago, I would have said, ‘Therapy and all are useless things. Wake up in the morning and exercise; you are overthinking.’ But I don’t say that now. When I’ll feel the need, I will see a therapist. If someone is seeking therapy, I will not judge them. We need to normalize it like cold and cough.”
We used to not burst firecrakers on Diwali as it used to scare cows and other animals-Pankaj Tripathi
10:25 AM
Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who was born and raised in a village in Bihar, fondly recalls the simple, heartfelt Diwali celebrations of his childhood, worlds away from the raucous city festivities
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 13, 2025)
He may be one of the most sought-after actors in the industry today, but Pankaj Tripathi remains deeply rooted in his small-town upbringing. As Diwali approaches, the actor reflects on the simple, heartfelt celebrations of his childhood in Belsand, Gopalganj (Bihar).
“In the village we used to have mitti ke diye with cotton wicks. It used to be an organic and peaceful Diwali,” the 49-year-old tells us.
Unlike the city’s high-decibel Diwali celebrations, firecrackers were never a big part of the festivities in Pankaj’s village. “Humare yahan pataakon ka chalan nahin tha zyada aur kaaran ye tha ki tez awaaz se gaaye, pashu darr jaate the. Iss wajeh se darwaze pe hum pataake nahin jala paate thhe. To sirf fuljhari and mitte ke diye,” shares the actor who will next be seen in Mirzapur: The Film.
He continues, “Hum apne ghar mein diye laga ke, dur se jaa ke dekhte thhe,” finding a special joy in seeing the home lit by diyas. According to him, “Bijli ki jhaalarein wo sukh nahin deti jo diye dete thhe,” and there was also a sense of responsibility, “Aur usko jaalaye rakhne ki bhi duty hai,” that made the tradition meaningful.
For this year, the actor, who now lives in Mumbai, has left the planning to his wife and daughter and says, “Unke plan mein main bass shamil ho jata hun.”
We’ve started believing that only serious, intense stories are real cinema-Pankaj Tripathi
8:23 AM
Pankaj Tripathi reflects on calm storytelling, nostalgia, and his shift from ‘Mirzapur’s chaos to the quiet charm of ‘Parivarik Manoranjan’
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 12, 2025)
Even after years of complex performances, Pankaj Tripathi speaks about his work with a simplicity that feels almost old-fashioned. When he talks about his next film, Parivarik Manoranjan, you can sense a quiet pride in his voice. “It’s a very beautiful story,” he says, smiling. “It’s not a big drama, there are no loud twists. It’s like slow cooking. You’ll like those small moments that stay with you even after the film ends.”
The film brings him closer to an unexpected co-actor, Aditi Rao Hydari. He says it has been a joy, especially since they come from two different worlds. “Aditi is sincere and hardworking. I saw one of her scenes and was genuinely surprised by how beautiful it was — so natural, so effortless. It’s always nice when a co-actor makes you feel that way.”
The film, produced by Ali Abbas Zafar and written by Vijay Kala and Varun V Sharma, who is also directing it, takes Tripathi back to the rhythm of the everyday. “It reminded me of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s brand of cinema — small, human stories about life as it is. Parivarik Manoranjan is like that. It’s just honest.”
Tripathi’s affection for this kind of cinema stems from both nostalgia and conviction. He believes the “feel-good” genre — which thrived through the 1970s and ’80s — needs revival, not out of sentimentality but necessity.
“We’ve made a very unilineal definition of cinema and art. Somewhere, we’ve started believing that only serious, intense stories are real cinema. But that’s not true. Cinema is also about filling the void in your life — that small emptiness that laughter, warmth, or a quiet moment can fill.”
He says he found a similar emotional range in films like Metro...In Dino, which he calls “a slice-of-life picture with repeat value.” According to him, such films can be watched again, and viewers will always find something new. “That’s the beauty of slow and calm storytelling — it grows with you.”
Unlike the morally ambiguous worlds of Mirzapur and Criminal Justice, he adds, “You binge it once, you discuss it, and you move on. It’s thrilling — but it doesn’t call you back again and again. Parivarik Manoranjan is the kind of film you want to sit with again — maybe on a rainy day or a quiet Sunday. It gives you peace.”
Even as he prepares to return to the chaotic worlds of Mirzapur and Criminal Justice 5, there’s a glow on his face when he speaks about Parivarik Manoranjan. “There’s entertainment in silence too. You just need to look for it,” he says.
People call him a criminal, but I’ve always seen Kaleen as a businessman-Pankaj Tripathi
10:07 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 4, 2025)
In September, Pankaj Tripathi reported to the shoot of Mirzapur The Film in Mumbai. Mention the movie, and the actor smiles at the symmetry of his journey with the franchise. “I began filming the series with the last scene of that season. Now, after all these years, my first day was again spent shooting the last scene,” he grins.
Starring Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi, and Rasika Dugal, the crime drama became wildly popular over its three seasons. Now, director Gurmmeet Singh is taking the Prime Video series to the big screen — a move that Tripathi thinks is “a bold gamble.” He says, “It’s the first time in India that a series is being transformed into a theatrical feature. It shows the faith the producers have in the story and these characters.”
Tripathi’s Kaleen Bhaiyya, an Uttar Pradesh-based gangster, is one of the most memorable antagonists in recent Hindi offerings. But the actor views him differently. “People call him a criminal, but I’ve always seen Kaleen as a businessman. He is soft-spoken, calm, and calculative. If you didn’t know what his business was, you might even find him poetic.”
Returning to Mirzapur’s world is always an enjoyable experience for the actor. It also reminds him of the long journey he has had from his home state Bihar to Bollywood.
“While chatting recently with Rasika, I remembered that for the first 18–19 years of my life, I didn’t even use a toothbrush. We didn’t have that concept in the village because there wasn’t a market nearby. These little things remind me of how far life has brought me. I didn’t do things like cutting a cake on my birthday. I didn’t grow up with that culture — there were no gifts, no birthday celebrations.”
Amit Rai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic with Shahid Kapoor shelved: "Actors will say yes to you once you enter their circle"
9:23 AM
Director Amit Rai revealed that his ambitious Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic with Shahid Kapoor has fallen apart
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; July 23, 2025)
In 2024, director Amit Rai came close to realising his wish of helming a historical drama on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Shahid Kapoor was attached to play the Maratha warrior. But a year on, things have changed. Rai, who last helmed OMG 2 (2023), reveals that the biopic is off the table. Reason? He pegs it down evasively to the “cruel system”.
“The system is so cruel. Even if you have proved your mettle with a Rs. 180 crore film [OMG 2], it’s not enough,” he says exasperatedly. While the director doesn’t specify why it fell through, he admits he felt helpless as the biopic — written by him — went from being one of the most ambitious projects to the shredder.
“How is a director supposed to work here, under these systems of casting, production, star, and management? You live with a story for five years, and within minutes, somebody writes a five-pager, pointing out what is wrong and what is right in the film.”
The experience made him realize that turning producer was the only way ahead. So, for his next, Dharma that revolves around a child and a dog, Rai relied on no one but himself and his hunger to tell the social drama. He felt validated when Hungarian cinematographer Máté Herbai and popular Hollywood action and motion-capture specialist Isaac Hamon came on board.
“I did four months of casting, [called] the action director I like the most and said that I have a story, but I don’t have money. [So many] people agreed just on the basis of our story.”
While his OMG 2 actor Pankaj Tripathi is part of the film, Akshay Kumar too had expressed interest in it (Akshay asked me why I did not pitch the film to him, July 16). But Rai says that the two actors are generous, a rarity in Bollywood where landing stars for a movie can be crushing.
“An actor will only do what’s working at the box office. Very few actors were honest to me. Sometimes, they weren’t interested in being part of a film that’s speaking the truth about society, and instead wanted to do a love story. But when I took a love story to them, they said, ‘This is an expensive film, this is a period love story.’ So, the criterion kept changing. [The truth is that] they will say yes to you once you enter their circle.”
Pankaj Tripathi blames high ticket prices for films not doing well in theatres
2:50 PM
Deep Saxena (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 19, 2025)
Lately, less footfall in theatres has been a cause of concern for filmmakers and exhibitors alike. While many cite the surge of OTT and changing tastes of viewers, some argue that the high ticket prices are keeping audiences away from cinema halls.
And actor Pankaj Tripathi agrees, saying, “Ticket pricing ek mudda hai aur uski bhi ek bhumika hai [in poor collections]. If a family has to go to the theatre today, it’s a very costly affair. Ticket prices and the food served there are so expensive.”
The 48-year-old adds, “I don’t know much about the commercial aspect of cinema, so the business game is beyond my understanding. And as an actor, my focus is just on the film. But I do feel that movie tickets are too costly and that’s surely a deterrent.”
Of late, many actors and filmmakers have also criticised the exorbitant ticket prices, with Aamir Khan saying, “it’s difficult for masses to go to theatres”.
To encourage better footfall, the Karnataka government recently reinstated a cap of Rs. 200 on movie ticket prices at theatres and multiplexes, for all films, regardless of language.
Pankaj goes on to explain why ticket costs are to be blamed: “On Tuesdays or on National Cinema Day, when the prices are lowered, the occupancy in cinema halls goes up. So, if we have fairly priced tickets, the footfall will surely increase. For a family to spend Rs. 2,000 and spare five hours (including travel time) is not an easy thing.”
When Akshay Kumar learnt about Dharma, he asked me why I didn’t pitch it to him-Amit Rai
11:00 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; July 16, 2025)
Where are the films for kids? That question haunted director Amit Rai for years. It has resulted in Dharma, his upcoming drama that tells the story of a child and a dog.
“Every country makes films for kids. They are our future generations. But the condition is pathetic here. It has been 10 years since we last watched a film for kids. In my opinion, Dangal [2016] or even Sultan [2016] is a film for kids; they aren’t only enjoyable but also allow kids to imbibe values of gender equality and love for sports. But we have failed to make such movies,” laments the director.
As he set out to explore the genre, Rai found a generous collaborator in Pankaj Tripathi, the leading man of his last film OMG 2 (2023). The actor wasn’t on his mind at all as Dharma’s protagonist is a child, played by Maahi Rai.
“I went to meet him and his wife after they had a [personal] tragedy. While sitting with him, I saw how his dog clung to him. So, I mentioned that I had written Dharma. He liked the story. Then over dinner one night, I gave him the full narration and he said, ‘It’s a wonderful story. Plus, you’re shooting in Bihar. I’d like to be a part of it’.”
The filmmaker, however, wasn’t sure whether Tripathi was serious. That is, until the actor asked for the script two months later. “I offered him the role of a teacher, which is very important. I kept asking him about the commercials. But he never talked about it. He never said, ‘This will be my remuneration’.”
Another former collaborator of Rai shared similar enthusiasm regarding Dharma — Akshay Kumar. The director says he was touched by the superstar’s interest. “Very few stars are interested in the story above anything else. Akshay Kumar is one of them. When he learnt about Dharma, he asked me why I didn’t pitch it to him. He said, ‘You saw that my dog passed away recently. I know that sentiment. You should have narrated it to me once.’ I told him that the film wasn’t star-driven. So, I didn’t think a superstar would say yes to it.”
Brijendra Kala turns writer, asks for "less interference from big stars"
8:30 AM
Deep Saxena (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 9, 2025)
Actor Brijendra Kala has turned writer with his first commercial film, Pariwarik ManuRanjan, starring Pankaj Tripathi and Aditi Rao Hydari, and he reveals that this is a result of a four-decade-long process of honing his craft. A protégé of the legendary writer Achala Nagar, whom he calls his “soul guru,” he says, “I assisted her in writing on many of her films, and she even paid me. I even used to live in her home.”
The actor reveals that filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar gave him a line to develop a story for the family entertainer, and he also features in it.
Brijendra shares that he started writing in his radio and theatre days. “In the late ’80s, I adapted Hari Shankar Parsai’s story Matadin Chaand Par into a play where I acted and directed it,” he informs, adding that he also penned a TV script for actor-filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia, wrote episodes for Ektaa R Kapoor’s Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, scripted some portions of Kill Dil (2014) and the 2020 film Sab Kushal Mangal.
As a writer, he feels that “content is very important but writers don’t get the respect they deserve.” He says, “There should be less interference – from big stars and commercial forces.”
So, is direction up next for him? “I have been in discussions for new concepts, and after this more stories will happen. Also, I would like to direct something and show a world from my perspective. With God’s grace, after becoming a part of successful big films like Raid 2 and Sitaare Zameen Par, it has given me the power to choose the best work. Leading makers are making (date) adjustments for me. A lot of films will be released soon. So, acting ki dukan badiya chal raha hai,” he responds.
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