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

Recent & Ongoing

2026

Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart

2025

Metro... In Dino

2024

Main Atal Hoon

2024

Murder Mubarak

2024

Stree 2

2023

OMG 2 – Oh My God! 2

2023

Kadak Singh

2022

Bachchhan Pandey

2022

Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga

2021

Mumbai Saga

2021

Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar

2021

Kaagaz

2021

Mimi

2020

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl

2020

Ludo

2020

83

2019

The Tashkent Files

2019

Luka Chuppi

2018

Kaala

2018

Harjeeta

2018

Stree

2018

Yours Truly

2017

Bareilly Ki Barfi

2017

Gurgaon

2016

Julie 2

2016

Nil Battey Sannata

2015

Manjhi: The Mountain Man

2000s

2014

Gunday

2014

Singham Returns

2012

Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2

2012

Gangs of Wasseypur

Best known for: Gangs of Wasseypur · Masaan · Newton · Stree · Mirzapur · Mimi · Ludo · Sacred Games

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.

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