Pankaj Tripathi (Birth name, né Tiwari; born 5 September 1976) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema and has also appeared in Telugu cinema, Telugu and Tamil cinema, Tamil language films. Tripathi has established himself as one of the notable actors of Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of several awards, including a National Film Award, a Filmfare Award, a Screen Award, and an IIFA Award. Born in Gopalganj District, India, Gopalganj, Bihar, Tripathi got more attracted to art in Patna where he was doing his higher studies. He enrolled himself in the National School of Drama in 2001, from where he graduated and moved to Mumbai in 2004. Tripathi did an uncredited role in the film ''Run (2004 film), Run'' (2004) and did several minor roles in films such as ''Raavan (2010 Hindi film), Raavan'' (2010) and ''Agneepath (2012 film), Agneepath'' (2012) and in some television series including ''Powder (TV series), Powder''. Tripathi rose to fame with his role as Sultan in Anurag Kashyap's ''Gangs of Wasseypur''. Since then, he has appeared in films as a supporting actor, including ''Singham Returns'' (2014), ''Kaala (2018 film), Kaala'' (2018), ''Extraction (2020 film), Extraction'' (2020) and ''83 (film), 83'' (2021). While Tripathi has received critical appraisal for multiple films, including ''Fukrey'' (2013), ''Masaan'' (2015), ''Nil Battey Sannata'' (2016), ''Bareilly Ki Barfi'' (2017), ''Newton (film), Newton'' (2017), ''Fukrey Returns'' (2017), ''Stree (2018 film), Stree'' (2018), ''Ludo (film), Ludo'' (2020), ''Kaagaz'' (2021) and Mimi (2021 Hindi film), ''Mimi'' (2021) for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. For ''Newton'', Tripathi earned several awards, including a National Film Award – Special Mention (feature film), National Film Award – Special Mention. He has starred in several web series, including ''Mirzapur (TV series), Mirzapur'', ''Criminal Justice (Indian TV series), Criminal Justice'', ''Yours Truly (2018 film), Yours Truly'' and ''Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors''.

Early life

Tripathi was born on 5 September 1976 in a Bhojpuri people, Bhojpuri-speaking Hindu Brahmin family in Belsand village (Barauli block) in Gopalganj district, India, Gopalganj District in the Indian state of Bihar, to Pandit Benares Tiwari and Hemwanti Tiwari as the youngest of their four children. His father works as a farmer and Hindu priest. Tripathi also worked as a farmer with his father until he was in the 11th standard at school. During festive seasons, he used to play the role of a girl in his village's local play (''Hindi theatre, natak)''. He moved to Patna after high school where he studied in Institute of Hotel Management, Hajipur. After his seven years stay in Patna, he moved to Delhi to enroll in the National School of Drama, from where he graduated in 2004.

Career

Tripathi moved to Mumbai in 2004. His first role there was of a politician in a Tata Consumer Products, Tata tea ad and then an uncredited role in the film ''Run (2004 film), Run''. In his early career, he played mostly antagonist roles and became synonymous with gangster characters. He appeared in various Hindi films in minor roles, including ''Apaharan'' (2005), ''Bunty aur Babli'' (2005), ''Omkara (2006 film), ''Omkara'''' (2006), ''Shaurya'' (2008), ''Raavan (2010 Hindi film), Raavan'' (2010), ''Aakrosh (2010 film), Aakrosh'' (2010), ''Chillar Party'' (2011), and ''Agneepath (2012 film), Agneepath'' (2012). In 2008, he also acted in the ''Bahubali'' TV series, and later in ''Powder (TV series), Powder'' on Sony TV as well as in few television serials such as ''Gulaal'' and ''Sarojini - Ek Nayi Pehal''. In 2012, he played his first major onscreen role as Sultan in the ''Gangs of Wasseypur'' films. His first film as a lead actor was the 2017 film ''Gurgaon (film), Gurgaon,'' followed by his role in ''Kaagaz'' (2021). His 2017 film ''Newton (film), Newton'' was India's official entry for the List of Academy Award winners and nominees for Best International Feature Film, Academy Award in the best foreign film category. Tripathi made his debut in Tamil cinema with the film ''Kaala (2018 film), Kaala,'' which was released on 7 June 2018. He also starred in leading roles in the 2018 Amazon Prime's web series ''Mirzapur (TV series), Mirzapur'' (season 1 and 2) and the 2019 Netflix web series Sacred Games (TV series), Sacred Games. He also appeared in the 2009 TV series Criminal Justice (Indian TV series), Criminal Justice as a lawyer.

Personal life

Tripathi met Mridula during a wedding ceremony in 1993 when they were both in school and then got married on 15 January 2004. They moved to Mumbai after their marriage, and in 2006, had a daughter named Aashi Tripathi.

Filmography

Films

Television

Web series

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tripathi, Pankaj 1976 births Living people Indian male film actors Male actors in Hindi cinema Male actors from Bihar Indian male television actors Indian male stage actors People from Gopalganj district, India National School of Drama alumni 21st-century Indian male actors Male actors in Telugu cinema Male actors in Tamil cinema Special Mention (feature film) National Film Award winners Screen Awards winners