Photo: Maximilian Bühn · CC BY-SA 4.0

Actor · Hindi Cinema

Pankaj Tripathi

Contemporary 2004–present

Pankaj Tripathi is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Hindi cinema and streaming series. A graduate of the National School of Drama, he spent years in minor and supporting parts before his turn as the menacing Sultan in Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) established him as one of the industry's most in-demand character actors. He is known for a naturalistic, understated style across films such as Newton, Masaan and Stree, and for iconic streaming roles, most notably Akhandanand "Kaleen Bhaiya" Tripathi in Mirzapur. His performances have earned him National Film Award recognition and a Filmfare Award.

Honours: Two National Film Awards — a Special Mention for Newton (2017) and Best Supporting Actor for Mimi (2021) — plus the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Mimi.

Filmography

31 films · compiled from Wikidata

2000s

2014

Did You Know?

He grew up in a farming family in Belsand village, Bihar, and worked in the kitchen of a Patna hotel while pursuing theatre before training at the National School of Drama.
He spent nearly a decade in bit parts and uncredited roles — including appearances in Run (2004) and Omkara (2006) — before Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) brought him wide recognition.
His portrayal of Akhandanand 'Kaleen Bhaiya' Tripathi in the series Mirzapur became one of the most popular characters on Indian streaming.
He played the title role of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the 2024 biographical film Main Atal Hoon.
Kishore Kumar had no formal training in classical music, yet became one of the most influential playback singers ever.
Aamir Khan’s Lagaan (2001) is one of only three Indian films nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.
The song “Mere Sapno Ki Rani” from Aradhana was famously picturised on a moving toy train in Darjeeling.

← Back to the Bollywood Hub

Pankaj Tripathi

Filmography

Recent & Ongoing

Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart

Metro... In Dino

Main Atal Hoon

Murder Mubarak

Stree 2

OMG 2 – Oh My God! 2

Kadak Singh

Bachchhan Pandey

Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga

Mumbai Saga

Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar

Kaagaz

Mimi

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl

Ludo

83

The Tashkent Files

Luka Chuppi

Kaala

Harjeeta

Stree

Yours Truly

Bareilly Ki Barfi

Gurgaon

Julie 2

Nil Battey Sannata

Manjhi: The Mountain Man

2000s

Gunday

Singham Returns

Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2

Gangs of Wasseypur

Did You Know?