In life, everybody has several roles they have to play, with no questions asked. These roles often come unannounced, without a written script and with plot twists that nobody ever sees coming.
Without an audition, these roles are often assigned to people even if they are convinced that they will not be able to do justice to the character that they are meant to play. But, in reality, the truth is that there are some roles that one can never say “no” to and some roles that nobody else would ever be able to do justice to.
The cast is selected, and this movie is titled, ‘life’ – a series of waking up and showing up, come what may. Be it as a father, a mother, a sister or a friend, some stories do not end even after the director yells, “cut”.
Day 4 of the 54th International Film Festival of India saw versatile Bollywood actor, Pankaj Tripathi, in conversation with Indian film critic and journalist, Mayank Shekhar. The duo had an interesting talk at the afternoon session titled, ‘Unique Swagger in Every Role’.
When asked how easy or difficult the switch between real life and the life in a film is, the Gangs of Wasseypur actor sharing his little philosophies on life explained, “One thing that we often forget is that films recreate a life that has already been created in reality.”
He went on to explain how although most roles in a film are often recreated by taking inspiration from personal experiences that the actor may have gone through himself, not all experiences can be experienced.
Take for example, the role of a murderer. “In moments like these, being empathetic and imagining what it must feel like to be in the shoes of the murderer is the closest option,” he added. After all, the brain and the body must be in sync.
Another purpose of acting, he believes, is to become a better person than you are once the cameras stop rolling.
“Actors are like clay, they have the ability to mould their body and emotions into whatever the character demands,” he explained further. In a world like ours where change is the only constant, “I always feel that whoever I am today, right now, I will be a better person tomorrow,” said Tripathi.
Simplicity and sincerity are the essence of Tripathi. Beneath all the stardom and popularity, he lives the life of a simple, middleclass man. He even humorously went on to share how the only time that he is reminded that he is not indeed a ‘middleclass man’ is when the income tax comes into the picture.
