Talented actor Pankaj Tripathi got teary-eyed during the virtual edition of Critics’ Choice Awards. The versatile actor was honoured as ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl at the award ceremony. Tears welled up from his eyes as he recalled the inspiration that led him to becoming an actor during his thank you speech.
Pankaj said, “In Bihar, there’s a river called Gandak that flows from Nepal. To the north of the river, there’s a district called Champaran and towards the south, there’s a district called Gopalganj. In 1988-99, I read an article that a boy from Champaran arrives in cinema and becomes an actor. This news reached me while I lived in the district that was in the south and that actor was Manoj bhaiya (Manoj Bajpai). I thought if someone from that side of the river’s bank can become an actor then why can’t I? That news stayed with me. Today I have two honours – one is winning an award by the ceremony and the second is sitting with Manoj Bhaiya.”
 |
Ms. Soumya Vajpayee, Senior Entertainment & Lifestyle Journalist |
