Bollywood actor with 850 crore box office movie once used to peel vegetables in hotel. 'I realised my destiny is something else'

Before becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most recognised actors, Pankaj Tripathi spent two years working at a hotel, peeling onions and potatoes. The actor recently revisited that phase of his life on Netflix’s The Great Indian Kapil Show, revealing how he began questioning whether he was meant for something different. Today, he is associated with successful films and shows, including Stree 2, which collected over Rs 850 crore worldwide.

Pankaj Tripathi recalls working at a hotel

During his conversation with Kapil Sharma, Pankaj was asked whether he had ever been confused about his career choices during his student days. The actor revealed that he had initially considered entering student politics but changed his mind after an unpleasant experience with the police.

“I wanted to be a student leader, but the police beat me so badly that I changed my mind that very day. I even worked at a hotel for two years, peeling onions and potatoes. I felt my destiny was elsewhere and not this. Eventually, I got into acting, so these things happen naturally; let it take its course,” he said.


The actor's journey eventually took him to the National School of Drama, from where he graduated in 2004. He then moved to Mumbai to pursue acting and made his film debut with a small role in Run the same year.

He made his breakthrough in Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) as Sultan Qureshi. The performance brought him wider attention and he was cast in films such as Fukrey, Masaan and Newton. He also won a National Film Award Special Mention for his acting in Newton.

Stree 2's Rs 857 crore success and OTT success

His portrayal of Kaleen Bhaiya in OTT shows like Mirzapur and lawyer Madhav Mishra in Criminal Justice established him as a familiar face among OTT audiences.

His filmography also includes Stree 2, the horror-comedy blockbuster that collected approximately Rs 857.15 crore worldwide, according to Sacnilk.

During the Kapil Sharma show, Navjot Singh Sidhu asked him whether OTT platforms had helped outsiders establish themselves in the entertainment industry.

“I agree that OTT helped outsiders make a name for themselves. We all belong to ordinary families, but in this democratic space we got opportunities and worked hard to earn our places,” Pankaj said.