When Gangsters Called Pankaj Tripathi After Gangs of Wasseypur

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JANUARY 08,2024

In a recent interview, Pankaj Tripathi opened up about the time after the release of Gangs of Wasseypur. He spoke of how he got a lot of attention due to the film, and not all of it was healthy. He was approached by gangsters who were very influenced by his character, Sultan Qureshi, in the film. He revealed how many gangsters in the North and South started to look up to him as their idol.

He spoke about it and said, "They thought Sultan does what he says in the film, and he also has a good character in the film. So, they started liking Sultan a lot." Due to his persona in the film, people were afraid of him in real life. He shared, "Many writers after that, who would come to narrate stories to me, would be scared that I would take out a knife from my pocket."

Gangs of Wasseypur was directed by Anurag Kashyap and starred Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Huma Qureshi, Richa Chadha, and Piyush Mishra in pivotal roles.

Pankaj Tripathi met Ram Gopal Varma before GoW

He also spoke of the time before the release of Gangs of Wasseypur when ace director Ram Gopal Varma approached him. He asked Pankaj to sit on a bench that was meant for four people. He himself sat on one edge of the bench and just kept looking at him for an extended time.

Speaking of the same, Tripathi said, "Ramu sat there in front, watching me. Now, if someone watches you for 10-15 minutes, you will feel awkward and wonder where to look! Then he asked me to leave and never called me back."

He also revealed a rather strange thing people did to get noticed by Ramu. "They said Ram Gopal Varma casts dangerous-looking people. In those days, in Four Bungalows, many actors would roam around with fake scars and blood on their faces, hoping that Ramu would cast them."

Pankaj Tripathi is currently gearing up for the release of Main Atal Hoon, which is a biopic based on the life of politician Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Read more: Pankaj Tripathi Birthday Special: 5 Contrast Performances That Showcased His Versatility