Pankaj Tripathi got in a year what many artistes spend their entire career wishing for—critical acclaim and commercial success at the same time. His August release, OMG 2, emerged a hit, and soon after, he won the National Award for his supporting act in Mimi (2021). Have these accomplishments altered his approach towards his career? “You’re talking about films, and here I’m thinking of doing a play next year,” Tripathi says with endearing simplicity, as we sit down to chat about his next, 
Kadak Singh.

While one would expect him to sign big films after the success of OMG 2 and Fukrey 3, the actor is staying true to his mantra of work-life balance. “I have done a lot of work on screen. So, I want to act on stage now. I don’t take load; we can complicate or simplify our life as we want. When I am not acting, I’m growing plants, vegetables and fruits. But I talk less about my farming background, otherwise, people will make reels on it and say, ‘See, a farmer’s son became an actor,’” he laughs.