Pankaj Tripathi opens up about taking a break after father's demise: 'I took time off to work on myself and heal'

Pankaj Tripathi, known for his powerful performances and calm on-screen presence, recently shared that he took a full year off from acting. The actor, who was recently seen in 'Criminal Justice 4' revealed that he didn’t sign a single film during that time. After losing his father in 2023, he decided to quietly take a step back and focus on himself, both mentally and physically.

‘I did not sign a film for one year’

The 'Mirzapur' actor opened up in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India about the emotional reason behind his break from the screen. He said, “After my father’s demise, I went on an introspective journey. I did not sign a film for a year, and I didn’t announce that I was taking a break.”

He added, “I took time off to work on myself and heal, physically and mentally. That’s why I’ve lost weight. I work out for three hours a day, six days a week. I also travelled, trips that I’d been putting off for a long time.”

Although the 'Mimi' actor stayed away from film sets, he did wrap up a few minor work commitments like ad shoots and some patchwork for the upcoming film 'Metro…In Dino'. But apart from that, he stayed out of the media spotlight and didn’t take on any new film scripts.

‘I kept telling people I don’t have time’

Tripathi revealed that he didn’t officially announce his break because he wanted to quietly focus on himself. He said he kept telling people he was too busy, but in truth, that time was reserved for much-needed reflection and healing. He shared, “I’m at a point where I’m no longer working for the money. I need to do work that gives me something to look forward to.”

The actor admitted there was a time when he wasn’t feeling the same passion for his work. “There was a time when I was counting days on projects just waiting for them to end. And I thought- this can’t be right. I love this profession so much. I’ve made so many sacrifices to get here, and if I’m spending my days just waiting for shoots to wrap, then something’s wrong. That’s why I took a break,” he explained.

Coping with his father’s passing

Tripathi’s father, Pandit Banaras Tiwari, passed away in August 2023 at the age of 99. It was a huge personal loss for the actor. Though he didn’t talk about it much in public at the time, this moment marked the beginning of a quiet but important chapter in his life. While he didn’t take to social media or give emotional interviews at the time, he did dedicate his National Award win to his late father. He also made a heartfelt gesture by opening a library in his village high school in memory of him.

A strong comeback with ‘Metro… In Dino’

After spending some time away from the film world, Pankaj Tripathi is now preparing to return to the big screen with 'Metro… In Dino'. The film is a spiritual sequel to the 2007 hit 'Life… In A Metro', directed by Anurag Basu.

The movie features a star-studded cast including Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ali Fazal, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Saswat Chatterjee and of course, Pankaj Tripathi himself. The film is set to release in cinemas on July 4, 2025.

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