Pankaj Tripathi, known for his grounded performances and effortless screen presence, recently experienced a proud yet surprising moment in his personal life. His daughter, Aashi Tripathi, made her stage debut last month with the play Lailaaj, and the veteran actor admitted that watching her perform left him both impressed and reflective.
Watching Aashi on Stage as an Actor, Not as a Father
Lailaaj, produced under Pankaj and Mridula Tripathi’s theatre banner Roopkatha Rangmanch, premiered in Mumbai in November and received strong appreciation from theatre audiences.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Pankaj revealed that he intentionally kept his emotions aside and observed Aashi purely as a fellow actor.
“I watched the play as an actor, not as a father,” he said. “By the third show, I noticed how much she had improved. I genuinely felt she was sharper than me at her age. When our teachers used to teach us these concepts, it took us one or two years to adopt them. She understood and applied them within three shows.”
Pankaj added that today’s generation accesses knowledge and adapts far quicker than earlier generations.
“This generation is very sharp, very advanced,” he said. “But their challenges are also equally advanced.”
Will Aashi Pursue Acting Full-Time?
While Aashi has not yet committed to acting as a long-term career, Pankaj says he will support whichever path she chooses.
“I will let her find her way,” he said. “I know the difficulties that lie ahead in this profession. Either I scare her by telling her everything now, or I give her the freedom to make her own decisions. Not just my daughter — all children deserve this freedom. Even if they fail, it is not a big deal.”
Pankaj Tripathi’s Upcoming Projects
On the work front, Pankaj Tripathi was last seen in Anurag Basu’s ensemble romantic drama Metro… In Dino, sharing the screen with Konkona Sen Sharma.
He is currently working on two major projects:
- Mirzapur film
- Parivarak Manuranjan opposite Aditi Rao Hydari
Both releases are expected in 2026.
Pankaj’s candid reflections on parenthood, performance and freedom highlight a refreshing approach to nurturing young talent, all while he continues delivering compelling work on screen.
