Pankaj Tripathi: If Mukesh Ambani Were An Actor, Nobody Would’ve Given Him A Rich Person’s Role.

Pankaj Tripathi in an interview with ANI challenges Bollywood stereotypes, using Mukesh Ambani as an example, emphasises the industry’s need for diverse portrayals beyond superficial appearances. From his breakthrough in Gangs of Wasseypur to his recent success in Mimi, Pankaj Tripathi has spanned a remarkable journey, establishing himself as an actor par excellence in every role he undertakes. The versatile actor is promoting his upcoming film, Main Atal Hoon, a biopic portraying the life of the former Prime Minister, poet, writer, and Bharat Ratna awardee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 

After securing two consecutive box office hits in 2023, Pankaj Tripathi is undoubtedly aiming for a hat-trick with Main Atal Hoon, an insightful dive into the legacy of India’s former Prime Minister.

During an interview as part of the film’s promotion, Tripathi talked about the general issue of stereotyping in Hindi cinema. He expressed his views on the industry’s tendency to pigeonhole characters based on external appearances, citing an example involving industrialist Mukesh Ambani. Tripathi asserted that if Mukesh Ambani were an actor instead of a businessman, he might struggle to be cast in roles befitting his real-life status.

In a statement to ANI, Tripathi highlighted the industry’s reliance on preconceived notions, saying, “Cinema has created a stereotype that a doctor looks like this and an engineer looks like this.” He emphasised the unrealistic expectations imposed even during auditions for minor roles, where a character’s economic status is often determined by appearance alone.

Tripathi continued by explaining the industry’s rooted stereotypes, stating, “If Mukesh Ambani was not a businessman and he went for an audition, Mukesh Ambani would never be cast as a rich man since rich look to hai hi nahin (because there is no predetermined rich look).” He critiqued the Bollywood practice of perpetuating such stereotypes, challenging the narrow definitions that limit the diversity of characters portrayed on screen.