Pankaj Tripathi says money doesn't excite him anymore, refuses offers despite large fees | Interview
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Star Pankaj Tripathi is almost philosophical when talking about work now. The 50-year-old says it is because of how evolved he feels about his movie choices. He no longer chases excitement and validation in monetary terms or even awards, but creative satisfaction. In a chat with Hindustan Times, the National Award winner opens up on his philosophy of work, the balance with life, and more.
Adding to this, Pankaj Tripathi talks about the evolution of his approach to work. ‘Cheques don’t excite me anymore' Pankaj sums up his approach to selecting films in one line: “Bina excitement ke mujhse koi movie hoti nahi hai (Without excitement, I just can't do a movie).” He explains, “That's where the joy lies: I must feel excited to do it first. Kitna koi paise ka offer de de (No matter how much money someone offers), cheques don't inspire or excite me anymore. So there should be a story where I feel, ‘Yes, this will be fun to do,’ or there's something hidden in the story that I want to give back to society.”
Meanwhile, The star says he has now learnt to say no to movie offers that don’t excite him, even if they involve large remuneration. “It is definitely not easy because my human side thinks, ‘This person came with high hopes. Their career might depend on this project.’ But ultimately, if a project doesn't excite me, I have to decline it.”
Notably, The star recalls that he used to cite date issues earlier, but that did not deter persistent filmmakers. “Earlier I used to make excuses like ‘I don't have dates for a year and a half,’ but people would say, ‘No problem, we'll wait till next year!’ So that method became outdated. Now I decline very politely, saying: ‘Sir, this isn't exciting me, and without excitement, how can I act when I come on set?’”
As per the latest buzz, Pankaj has been active in films for over two decades now, and he sees how his approach to a movie role offer has changed over the years. “Earlier, the reason for excitement was different: getting paid, getting work! That was enough motivation: ‘Let's do it, it will help us get by; I have a small desire to buy a car, this will help achieve that,’” he recalls.
In further updates, Calling the early years his ‘survival phase’, Pankaj adds, “During the survival phase, excitement comes from many things. But when it's no longer about survival, then you need artistic satisfaction. Without that artistic joy, I cannot feel excited.”
On top of that, Pankaj is currently basking in the success of Mirzapur The Movie. The spinoff to the popular series was a critical and commercial success, raking in over ₹ 350 crore rupees worldwide. The star is currently starring in Parivarik Manuranjan, a romantic comedy opposite Aditi Rao Hydari. The movie, which rolled out on Sony LIV on November 13, is directed by Varun Sharma.
Abhimanyu Mathur is Deputy Editor, Entertainment at Hindustan Times. With almost 15 years of experience in writing about everything from films and TV shows to cricket matches and elections, he inhales and exhales pop culture and news. Currently, he watches movies and TV shows and talks to celebrities for a living, while occasionally writing about them as well. A journalism graduate of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University, Abhimanyu began his career with Hindustan Times at the age of 20, swapping classrooms for newsrooms at an early age. He began his journey in the early days of digital journalism, later switching to the madness of print journalism. Work has led him to far off places like Japan and Jordan, as well as to the interiors of Haryana and the Indo-Pak border. He dabbled in city reporting in places like Meerut, Gurgaon, and Delhi, covered the Olympics and Cricket World Cups, before finding his calling in entertainment and lifestyle during the pandemic. A Rotten Tomatoes Certified Movie Critic, he is equally at home covering stories on ground as he is interviewing celebrities and studios, and sometimes prefers to shepherd teams in delivering traffic through the day. Even as his role has evolved from reporter to supervisor over the years, his first love remains writing (and of late, talking on camera). With a good understanding of cinema and its trends, and a keen eye for detail, he continues to spark conversations around showbiz for readers around the world. Read More
Source: Hindustan Times