‘Earlier, I had to search for work, and now it searches me’; Pankaj Tripathi opens up on changes in his career

Pankaj Tripathi is one of Bollywood’s most versatile actor but life hasn’t always been too good for this household name.

In an interview, the ‘Mirzapur’ star confessed that he had indeed found it hard to find jobs and roles in the industry.

“My career has changed over the past few years. Earlier, I had to search for work, and now it searches me. I had to go door-to-door for auditions, wait outside offices and say ‘I’m an actor, give me work’. Now, the films which will be shot in the second half of 2021, I get their scripts today. It used to be very difficult to even get to know where a film is being shot. I’d go there, only to be told that the film unit has shot and already gone.”

Tripathi also says that he doesn’t think it’s hard to refuse a filmmaker if they understand the career. “The other person should know the genuine reason. I get a lot of messages and film proposals, who I’m not even able to reply to. I make efforts to at least inform them that I can’t do their projects, so they know. And if replied with sincerity, the other person won’t get hurt. Without excitement, I can’t act.”

Concluding his take on his fame he says, “Acting mere liye pure passion ka job hai. You can’t say ‘There’s no excitement, I’ll do it even then’. Earlier, I did that, and then the excitement for me used to be the money. I’d say ‘At least kuch nahi toh survive karna hai’. Pehla jeena zaroori hai, uske baad art aata hai. But if you’re able to survive, then things like excitement come into your art. Otherwise you can’t perform art if you don’t want to do it from the inside.”