Pankaj Tripathi on playing Kaleen Bhaiya: “You will see that Kaleen Bhaiya is actually quite…”

Pankaj Tripathi has once again captivated audiences by reprising his role as Kaleen Bhaiya in the third season of Amazon Prime’s highly acclaimed web series Mirzapur. In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, Tripathi delved into why he initially accepted the role back in 2018 and his thoughts on the character’s unique attributes.

A different kind of Don
Tripathi highlighted that Kaleen Bhaiya stands out from the typical portrayals of dons on screen. “He’s not hungry for power or aggressive,” he noted. “If you set aside his profession, he’s actually a very decent guy. I have made him relatable to the audience.” By creating a character that deviates from traditional depictions, Tripathi aimed to offer a fresh perspective. “If you notice, you will see that Kaleen Bhaiya is actually quite graceful. I’ve made the character that way. He talks to everyone with a lot of respect, except his wife. Par wahi toh charitra hai na samaaj ka (isn’t that the reality of society?),” he added.

The importance of relatability
Known for his down-to-earth personality both on and off the screen, Tripathi emphasized the importance of relatability in acting. “In films, we are just actors. But in real life, we are both the actor and the director. If we misdirect, we will become someone else. Relatability is extremely important to connect an actor with the audience, but it has to be organic and that’s where craft comes into play,” he explained.

An incident from Hindu College
To illustrate his point, Tripathi recounted an experience at Hindu College in Delhi. During a cultural event, a girl approached him and said, “Aap aise lagte ho ke mere chacha ho.” Tripathi responded, “Main toh tumse pehli baar mil raha hoon aaj. Phir chacha kaise lagta hoon? (We have just met today. How do I seem like your uncle?)” This interaction highlighted how his relatable characters resonate deeply with the audience.

Balancing relatability and uniqueness
Tripathi also emphasized the need for a touch of uniqueness in relatable characters. “If people think they have seen such a relatable character around themselves and deem it boring, they will not be interested in seeing them on the big screen. Log sochenge aise toh bahut dekhe hain jeevan mein, isi ko parde pe kya dekhna? (People will think they have seen many such characters in real life, why watch them on screen?)” By striking a balance between relatability and uniqueness, Tripathi continues to engage and entertain his audience with his diverse roles.

Also Read: Vijay Varma shares a heartfelt note post the premiere of Mirzapur Season 3; says, “Thank you for all the love”