Pankaj Tripathi grew long hair inspired by Sanjay Dutt in Patna days
Synopsis
Before he became Kaleen Bhaiya, Pankaj Tripathi was a Patna student who grew his hair like Sanjay Dutt, kept his demeanour like him, and once took a lathi blow just to watch 'Sadak'. The story of how a small-city fan eventually co-starred with his idol is one of Bollywood's quieter full-circle moments.
Key Takeaways
Pankaj Tripathi revealed he grew long hair during his student days in Patna , inspired by Sanjay Dutt .
He described Dutt as the only actor who influenced him, saying he even adopted Dutt's demeanour.
Around 1993–1994 , Tripathi was hit by a lathi while trying to buy tickets for Dutt's film 'Sadak' in Patna.
Tripathi later shared screen space with Dutt in 'Dus' ( 2005 ) and 'Agneepath' ( 2012 ).
He is set to return as Kaleen Bhaiya ( Akhandanand Tripathi ) in an upcoming project.
Acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi once revealed that Sanjay Dutt was the only film star he truly admired during his student years in Patna — an admiration so deep that he briefly grew his hair to mirror Dutt's iconic look. The candid disclosure offers a rare glimpse into the formative years of one of Hindi cinema's most respected character actors.
The Sanjay Dutt Connection
In a conversation with a media outlet, Pankaj Tripathi said, 'I was not a fan of Bollywood. I was a fan of Sanju Baba. I used to study in Patna. For a few days, I even grew my hair like Baba. And I used to keep my demeanor also like him. I am only influenced by him. I am not influenced by any other hero.'
The admission is notable given that Tripathi has since carved out a distinct screen persona — understated, grounded, and far removed from the larger-than-life image Dutt embodied in the early 1990s.
The Lathi Incident Outside a Patna Cinema
Tripathi also recalled a vivid anecdote from around 1993–1994, when he attempted to buy tickets for Sanjay Dutt's film 'Sadak' at a cinema in Patna. Black-market ticketing was rampant at the time, and the crowd outside the theatre turned chaotic.
'In fact, I was beaten by a lathi. I went to buy tickets for Sadak in Patna. Back then, a lot of black tickets were sold. There was no multiplex. This was around 1993–1994. I was hit by a lathi. When I told Baba this one day,' Tripathi recounted, leaving the story with a characteristic open-ended warmth.
The anecdote underscores how deeply Dutt's stardom permeated small-city India in that era, long before multiplexes democratised film access.
When Fan Met Idol on Screen
Life came full circle for Tripathi when he shared screen space with Dutt in two films. In 'Agneepath' (2012), Sanjay Dutt played the menacing antagonist Kancha Cheena, while Tripathi appeared in a supporting role. The two had also worked together earlier in 'Dus' (2005).
Tripathi's journey from a Patna student getting lathi-charged outside a cinema to co-starring with his idol is one of Bollywood's more quietly remarkable arcs.
What's Next for Pankaj Tripathi
Tripathi is set to reprise his celebrated role as Akhandanand Tripathi, popularly known as Kaleen Bhaiya, in an upcoming project. The character, from the acclaimed web series 'Mirzapur', remains one of his most iconic performances and commands a dedicated following across India.
Point of View
But it also maps something larger: the stranglehold that a handful of male stars held over small-city India's imagination in the early 1990s, when a single Sanjay Dutt release could trigger lathi charges outside single-screen cinemas. Tripathi's candour about idol worship is rare in an industry where actors prefer to project self-made mythologies. That the fan eventually co-starred with his idol — and arguably outgrew him in critical esteem — says as much about the churn in Hindi cinema over three decades as it does about Tripathi's own arc.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Pankaj Tripathi grow long hair in his student days?
Pankaj Tripathi grew long hair during his student years in Patna because he was deeply inspired by Sanjay Dutt. He has said Dutt was the only actor who influenced him, and he even tried to replicate his idol's hairstyle and demeanour.
What happened to Pankaj Tripathi outside the 'Sadak' cinema in Patna?
Around 1993–1994, Tripathi was hit by a lathi while attempting to buy tickets for Sanjay Dutt's film 'Sadak' at a cinema in Patna. Black-market ticketing and large crowds made the situation chaotic, and he was caught in the melee.
Did Pankaj Tripathi and Sanjay Dutt ever work together?
Yes, the two have shared screen space in two films. They appeared together in 'Dus' (2005) and again in 'Agneepath' (2012), where Sanjay Dutt played antagonist Kancha Cheena and Tripathi had a supporting role.
What is Pankaj Tripathi's next project?
Pankaj Tripathi is set to reprise his iconic role as Akhandanand Tripathi, known as Kaleen Bhaiya, in an upcoming project related to the 'Mirzapur' franchise.
Who is Kaleen Bhaiya?
Kaleen Bhaiya, or Akhandanand Tripathi, is the character Pankaj Tripathi plays in the popular Hindi-language web series 'Mirzapur'. The role is widely regarded as one of his defining performances and has earned him a large fan following.
