Pankaj Tripathi has spent years winning audiences over with realistic, relatable characters. But the Mirzapur: The Movie star now wants to step into darker territory, revealing that he is actively looking for a “brutal” villain role.
Pankaj Tripathi has established himself as one of the most versatile actors in Indian cinema. Over the years, he has portrayed everything from memorable comic characters and grounded family men to powerful gangsters and complex dramatic roles. However, the actor now appears ready to move away from the familiar territory of slice-of-life cinema.
In a recent interview, Pankaj revealed that he wants to explore darker, more challenging characters and specifically expressed his desire to play a deadly and brutal villain.
Pankaj Tripathi Wants To Return To Villainous Roles
Speaking to The Times of India, Pankaj Tripathi admitted that he has been missing villainous characters and wants filmmakers to consider him for more intense roles.
The actor said that he now wants to explore fantasy and comedy while also returning to the kind of negative characters he played earlier in his career.
He revealed that he even reached out to filmmaker Amar Kaushik, known for films such as Stree, Bala and Bhediya, asking him to consider him for a brutal antagonist.
Pankaj said, “If you have a script like that, give me a brutal villain’s role. I want to play a deadly villain. Bahot ho gaya playing slice-of-life characters.”
The statement has already created curiosity among fans, particularly because Pankaj has repeatedly demonstrated that he can make even morally grey and dangerous characters compelling.
Sultan From Gangs Of Wasseypur Remains His Favourite Villain
Interestingly, Pankaj also revealed that Sultan Qureshi from Gangs of Wasseypur remains his favourite villainous character.
The role became one of the early highlights of his career and showcased the actor’s ability to bring menace, humour and unpredictability to a character.
While audiences have since seen Pankaj in several intense roles, the actor appears eager to revisit that darker side of his acting range.
A completely ruthless antagonist could also give him an opportunity to move beyond the grounded middle-class and family-oriented characters that have become strongly associated with his recent work.
Why Pankaj Tripathi Wants A Change
Pankaj Tripathi has often gravitated towards characters that feel like real people rather than larger-than-life heroes.
The actor has previously spoken about his preference for stories centred around ordinary people and everyday experiences. His characters frequently represent middle-class families, parents, working professionals and people caught in situations that feel familiar to audiences.
However, his latest comments suggest that he now wants to challenge himself creatively.
Instead of repeatedly playing grounded and relatable characters, Pankaj wants to experiment with genres and personalities that allow him to explore a different side of his acting ability.
His interest in fantasy, comedy and brutal antagonists could therefore mark an exciting new phase in his career.
Pankaj Tripathi Returns As Kaleen Bhaiya In Mirzapur: The Movie
While the actor is looking for new challenges, fans are preparing to see him return as one of his most iconic characters — Kaleen Bhaiya.
Mirzapur: The Movie is bringing back the popular characters from the hit franchise for a theatrical adventure.
Pankaj will reprise the role of Kaleen Bhaiya, while Ali Fazal returns as Guddu Pandit and Divyenndu reprises his much-loved role as Munna Bhaiya.
The makers recently unveiled character posters featuring the returning stars, immediately sending fans into a frenzy.
The franchise’s loyal audience has been eagerly waiting to see what happens when these characters finally reunite on the big screen.
Mirzapur: The Movie Trailer Release Date
The excitement around Mirzapur: The Movie is expected to rise further with the arrival of its trailer.
The trailer is scheduled to release on August 10, 2026, giving audiences their first extended look at the theatrical continuation of the popular crime saga.
The film is directed by Gurmmeet Singh and written by Puneet Krishna, the creative forces behind the Mirzapur universe.
The movie also stars Abhishek Banerjee, Rasika Dugal, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Harshita Shekhar Gaur, Sheeba Chadha, Rajesh Tailang and Sonal Chauhan.
When Will Mirzapur: The Movie Release?
Mirzapur: The Movie is scheduled to arrive in cinemas worldwide on September 4, 2026.
The film will be released in Hindi and Telugu and is produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under the banner of Excel Entertainment. Amazon MGM Studios is presenting the film.
The theatrical release marks a major expansion for the Mirzapur franchise, which originally became a phenomenon through its streaming seasons.
Will Pankaj Tripathi Finally Get His Brutal Villain?
For now, there is no official confirmation about which upcoming project could feature Pankaj Tripathi as the kind of brutal antagonist he is looking for.
However, his comments make one thing clear: the actor is ready to experiment.
After years of playing characters rooted in realism, Pankaj seems keen to embrace roles that are darker, larger and more unpredictable.
And considering his performance as Kaleen Bhaiya, fans already know that he can make a villain impossible to ignore.
For now, audiences can look forward to seeing him return as Kaleen Bhaiya in Mirzapur: The Movie. But if Pankaj gets his way, his next big villain could be something entirely different — and considerably more terrifying.
FAQs
1. Why does Pankaj Tripathi want to play a brutal villain?
Pankaj Tripathi said he wants to move away from the slice-of-life characters he has played frequently and explore darker, more challenging roles.
2. What kind of villain does Pankaj Tripathi want to play?
The actor said he wants to portray a “brutal” and “deadly” villain, giving him an opportunity to explore a completely different side of his acting.
3. Which is Pankaj Tripathi’s favourite villain role?
Pankaj Tripathi has said that Sultan Qureshi from Gangs of Wasseypur remains one of his favourite villainous characters.
4. Did Pankaj Tripathi approach Amar Kaushik for a villain role?
Yes. Pankaj revealed that he contacted filmmaker Amar Kaushik and asked him to consider him if he had a script featuring a brutal villain.
5. Is Pankaj Tripathi returning as Kaleen Bhaiya?
Yes. Pankaj Tripathi is reprising his iconic role as Kaleen Bhaiya in Mirzapur: The Movie.
