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Pankaj Tripathi Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 13, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth5 September 1976

Age48 Years (as of 2024)

BirthplaceBelsand, near Gopalganj, Bihar, India

ProfessionActor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseMridula

FamilyDaughter - Aashi Tripathi; Father - Pandit Banaras Tiwari (deceased 21 August 2023); Mother - Hemwanti (deceased 30 October 2025); 3 elder brothers; 2 elder sisters

Pankaj Tripathi Biography

Pankaj Tripathi is an Indian actor from Gopalganj, Bihar, known for his grounded performances on stage and screen. A graduate of the National School of Dr

Early life and background

Pankaj Tripathi was born on 5 September 1976 in the village of Belsand near Gopalganj in Bihar. He grew up in a household where his father combined farming with priestly duties and his mother managed the home. Tripathi attended D. P. H School in Gopalganj and later continued his education in Patna, where he also completed a course in hotel management and worked as a cook for two years at Hotel Maurya.

Tripathi’s engagement with performance began early. In his teens he took part in local festival theatre and school plays, and during his college years in Patna he became active in student life and athletic competitions, representing his college in events such as high jump and the 100-metre sprint. A stage production he saw in Patna had a profound impact on him, deepening his interest in drama and prompting him to seek out theatre work in the city.

Theatre and training

After getting his start on stage in Patna in the mid-1990s, Tripathi became a regular theatre performer and worked in plays for several years. In 2001 he was admitted to the National School of Drama in Delhi, where he studied from 2001 to 2004 and earned a graduation in drama. Following his NSD training he returned briefly to theatre in Patna before moving to Mumbai with his wife in October 2004 to pursue opportunities in film and television.

Career

Tripathi’s screen debut came in the 2004 film Run. Over the next several years he took on a string of small roles in films and television and appeared in commercial work. In 2010 he played a part in the television drama Gulal on Star Plus. While working on that series he auditioned for Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur and was ultimately cast as the character Sultan, a role that brought him strong recognition from audiences and critics and helped open doors to more substantial film projects.

Following Gangs of Wasseypur, Tripathi earned praise for performances in movies including Fukrey, Manjhi: The Mountain Man, and Masaan. His work has been noted for its naturalism and the low-key authority he brings to supporting and lead roles. In 2023 he was awarded the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Mimi; the award was presented to him by the President of India on 17 October 2023.

Public profile

Beyond his film work, Tripathi has been active in public initiatives. He served as the State Icon for Bihar with the Election Commission and in October 2022 was named a National Icon by the Election Commission of India to encourage electoral participation. He has spoken publicly about his affection for Bihari cuisine and his wish to promote regional dishes.

Tripathi has also maintained ties to his birthplace: in September 2023 he opened a library at a school in Belsand in memory of his father.

Personal life

Tripathi is married to Mridula; the couple wed on 15 January 2005. They have a daughter, Aashi Tripathi. His family includes three elder brothers and two elder sisters. His religion is Hinduism. He lists hobbies such as cooking, reading, travelling and listening to music. Tripathi has named filmmakers Ram Gopal Varma and Anurag Kashyap and actor Amitabh Bachchan among his favourites.

Latest updates

In October 2023 Tripathi received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Mimi. In 2024 he was involved in the film Main Atal Hoon, in which he portrays the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee; Tripathi has spoken about his admiration for Vajpayee and recalled seeing political leaders during his youth in Patna.
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Recent Work

Mimi

Won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role; award presented on 17 October 2023.

2023
Main Atal Hoon

Portrays Atal Bihari Vajpayee (film referenced in relation to his remarks about the leader).

2024
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Career Highlights

  1. Graduated from the National School of Drama (2004)
  2. Breakthrough role as Sultan in Gangs of Wasseypur
  3. National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Mimi (2023)
  4. Named National Icon by the Election Commission of India (2022)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Pankaj Tripathi born?

5 September 1976

What is Pankaj Tripathi known for?

Actor

What is Pankaj Tripathi’s marital status?

Married

Who is Pankaj Tripathi married to?

Mridula