Don't like idea of speaking in a language I'm not comfortable with: Pankaj Tripathi

Kolkata: Actor Pankaj Tripathi says he doesn’t like the idea of working in a movie or a show made in a language he is, not ”comfortable with”.

Tripathi, the versatile star of films such as ”Stree”, ”Gurgaon”, ”Ludo” and the web series ”Mirzapur”, said he is also not in favor of his voice being dubbed by another actor. ”I don’t like the idea of speaking in a language I am not comfortable with in any film or web series. I’m not in favor of my dialogues being mouthed by someone else. My acting and expressions are complemented by my voice. Otherwise, my role is incomplete,” the 45-year-old told PTI.

Asked whether he would ever star in a Bengali movie, Tripathi said he has an understanding of the Bengali language but that is not sufficient. ”Ami alpo alpo Bangla jani, bhaloi bujhi kintu bhalo bolte parina (I know a little bit of Bengali and understand fully but can’t speak much). It is not sufficient for portraying a Bengali-speaking character,” he added.

However, he would do a Bengali movie if he is cast as a Hindi-speaking character, Tripathi said.

”I am looking forward to being approached with a storyline to my liking by any of the current crops of talented directors of Bengal,” he said.

The actor currently headlines filmmaker Srijit Mukherji’s ”Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga”, which is set to be released theatrically across the country on Friday. The film is inspired by true events from the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, where people would leave their elderly family members for tigers to prey on and then claim compensation from the administration.

Asked if working in ”Sherdil” has made him more aware of eco-conservation, Tripathi said he has always been closely attached to mother nature.

”I have been made a green ambassador of an NGO and been associated with their green drive for wild animals in the Pench Tiger Reserve project. I will be similarly associated with projects to protect the environment and wildlife in the future.” The actor said everyone should ”work towards making this world, our neighborhood and other places liveable”.

Tripathi, who hails from Belsand village in the Gopalganj district of Bihar, said playing protagonist Gangaram in ”Sherdil” was not a difficult character to essay on screen. ”I hail from a village and I know these people. Srijit first told me about the concept of ‘Sherdil’ in 2019 when I came to Kolkata during Durga Puja. I was hooked on the idea. He then started developing the storyline for the next two years and I was on board the project,” he added.

Produced by Bhushan Kumar and Reliance Entertainment, ”Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga” also stars Neeraj Kabi and Sayani Gupta.