Pankaj Tripathi, or better known as Kaleen Bhaiya or Guruji has left us speechless in a number of roles that he has played. Be it web series like Mirzapur or Sacred Games or movies like Masaan or Gangs of Wasseypur, Pankaj Tripathi has shown versatility in his performances and has made us appreciate his talent.
It was 2004 when Pankaj Tripathi, coming from a very humble background, made his Bollywood debut with a small part in the movie Run. Although he got his fame for his role in Gangs of Wasseypur. And since then, Pankaj Tripathi has given numerous amazing performances one after the other. His hard work gave him results when he won National Award for his role in Newton which was also India’s official entry to Oscars.
There are also a number of movies that you might have missed where Pankaj Tripathi has shown his versatility. So, here we present to you 10 notable movies where Pankaj has given amazing performances and are definitely worth a watch.
1. Gurgaon
This movie served the first lead role for Pankaj where he played a real estate tycoon Kehri Singh. His role was dark and the movie also got critically acclaimed for its dark and fast-pacing storyline.
2. Dharm
This 2007 National Award winner movie got a lot of positive reception for Pankaj Tripathi’s role as Suryaprakash. The movie questioned the true meaning of religion and was also a directorial debut of of Bhavna Talwar.
3. Anaarkali of Aarah
After playing harsh role such as that in Gangs of Wasseypur, Pankaj Tripathi played the role of a local dancer and singer in this movie. His character, Rangeela is in love with Anaarkali and as the name suggests, his character is truly colorful.
4. Powder
Before all these movies with dark roles, it was the show called powder that showed Pankaj’s outstanding performance in being the crimelord who was able to scare the audience but also at the same time, able to gather sympathy for the character.
5. Maazii
This thriller drama received great response from the critics but failed to perform commercially because of the limited release. The story revolved around a family’s struggle to deal with an unexpected tragedy and was praised to be an exceptionally crafted thriller.
6. Anwar ka Ajab Kissa
Nawaziddun Siddiqui as lead, this movie was never released commercially and was premiered at BFI London Film Festival. The movie is a dark comedy and revolves around a detective who decides to investigate his own life.
7. Sarojini – Ek Nayi Pehal
This series on Zee TV is about the lead character trying to struggle her way through the patriarchal beliefs of the family that she has been married in. Pankaj Trippathi has played the antagonist and has obviously shined through the show.
8. Bareilly ki Barfi
A lot of you might have watched the movie, but take time to appreciate the versatility of Pankaj Tripathi who has played the role of a liberal father who has set his daughter free and patiently waits for her to choose her husband.
9. Global Baba
The movie is based on the spiritual leaders or babas that are unique to Indian culture. The movie is a satire on this concept and Pankaj Tripathi, no doubt emerged as a great “Baba” to suit the storyline.
10. Coffee with D
The movie is about an ambitious news anchor who is looking for the perfect interviewee. Although the movie was a failed on commercial platforms, Pankaj Tripathi and the co-stars Sunil Grover and Zakir Hussain were praised for their performances.
