Pankaj Tripathi on Power and Control: ‘The One Sitting in Power Is Always Insecure’
The actor says insecurity is an inherent part of the power game while reflecting on his character Kaleen Bhaiya in the Mirzapur franchise
Mumbai–Actor Pankaj Tripathi, known for portraying the formidable Kaleen Bhaiya in the Mirzapur franchise, has opened up about the insecurities that often lie beneath the intimidating exterior of powerful men, saying that those who hold power are constantly afraid of losing it.
Asked whether Kaleen Bhaiya’s obsession with power, fear and control stems from a deep-rooted insecurity about losing his relevance, Pankaj said insecurity is an inherent part of the power game.
“Yes, in the power game, there is always this problem that the one who is sitting on power is insecure,” Pankaj told IANS.
The actor’s comments offer a glimpse into the psychology of Kaleen Bhaiya, one of the central figures in the Mirzapur universe, whose authority and influence are built on maintaining control over people and territory.
Mirzapur: The Movie, which is set to stream on Prime Video following its theatrical run, is directed by Gurmmeet Singh. Presented by Amazon MGM Studios in collaboration with Excel Entertainment, the film is backed by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, with Kassim Jagmagia and Vishal Ramchandani serving as co-producers.
The film brings back several familiar faces from the popular series, including Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, Rasika Dugal, Shweta Tripathi, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Harshita Gaur. Jitendra Kumar and Ravi Kishan are among the new additions to the cast.
Tripathi’s own journey in the film industry has been marked by a steady rise from smaller roles to some of the most recognizable characters in Indian cinema and streaming entertainment. He began with minor parts in films such as Omkara and Agneepath and appeared in the television series Powder.
He gained wider recognition with his performance in Anurag Kashyap’s 2012 crime drama Gangs of Wasseypur. He subsequently appeared in films including Fukrey, Masaan, Nil Battey Sannata, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Fukrey Returns, Stree, Ludo, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl and 83.
He has also played leading roles in streaming series such as Mirzapur and Criminal Justice, as well as the film Kaagaz. His performance in Newton earned him a National Film Award Special Mention, while his role in Mimi won him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
More recently, Tripathi has starred in the social satire OMG 2 and the horror-comedy sequel Stree 2. (Source: IANS)
