Pankaj Tripathi on Parivarik ManuRanjan: 'I don't need to act here'
Synopsis
Pankaj Tripathi says he 'doesn't need to act' as Ranjan Dubey in 'Parivarik ManuRanjan' — the role is simply him. For the actor who built his fame on terrifying underworld bosses, this quiet family film on SonyLIV may be his most revealing performance yet.
Key Takeaways
Pankaj Tripathi stars as Ranjan Dubey in 'Parivarik ManuRanjan' , premiering on SonyLIV on 13 November 2026 .
Tripathi says Ranjan Dubey is 'closer to me in real life' compared to Kaleen Bhaiyya ( 'Mirzapur' ) or Sultan Qureshi ( 'Gangs of Wasseypur' ).
The actor noted that playing menacing characters requires deliberate effort, whereas Ranjan Dubey is 'free-flowing'.
Co-actor Aditi Rao Hydari was also present at the interaction held in Goregaon East, Mumbai .
Tripathi described his desire for acting variety using a food analogy, saying constant repetition — however good — eventually demands a change.
Actor Pankaj Tripathi has opened up about the stark contrast between his most recognisable screen personas and his latest role in the upcoming streaming film 'Parivarik ManuRanjan', set to premiere exclusively on SonyLIV on 13 November 2026. Speaking alongside co-actor Aditi Rao Hydari in the Goregaon East area of Mumbai, Tripathi said the character of Ranjan Dubey in the film is the closest he has ever come to playing himself on screen.
Kaleen Bhaiyya vs Ranjan Dubey
Tripathi drew a sharp distinction between high-intensity villains and the everyday everyman he plays in 'Parivarik ManuRanjan'. 'As an actor, we want a lot of changes or versatility in the work that comes our way. There are a lot of other characters that are difficult to ignore. There are characters that are difficult to notice,' he said. He added that viewers may struggle to believe the same actor who brought the menacing Kaleen Bhaiyya in 'Mirzapur' to life is now playing the unassuming Ranjan Dubey.
Why This Role Feels More Natural
'I have to act while playing Sultan from 'Gangs of Wasseypur' or Kaleen Bhaiyya from 'Mirzapur'. I don't need to act here, this is more free-flowing, this is more me,' Tripathi said. The actor explained that essaying characters like Sultan Qureshi from 'Gangs of Wasseypur' demands deliberate effort to project menace, whereas Ranjan Dubey's ordinariness aligns naturally with his own temperament. This candid admission underscores a rare dimension of Tripathi's craft — that his most celebrated roles are, in a sense, the furthest from who he actually is.
An Actor's Need for Range
Tripathi used a food analogy to explain his desire for variety: 'It's difficult to notice Ranjan Dubey, and it's difficult to ignore Kaleen Bhaiyya. So, the actor enjoys it when he gets to eat all kinds of food, and we don't eat what we eat no matter how good it is. So, we also need a change, for the actor, and for the audience as well.' The remark highlights a deliberate creative strategy — alternating between dominating, scene-stealing roles and quieter, immersive performances to avoid typecasting and to keep audiences surprised.
About Parivarik ManuRanjan
'Parivarik ManuRanjan' is a streaming film that presents Tripathi in a family-oriented, low-key avatar — a marked departure from the crime and power dramas that made him a household name. The film also stars Aditi Rao Hydari and drops on SonyLIV on 13 November 2026. With the OTT space increasingly rewarding nuanced, character-driven content, the release arrives at a time when audiences appear more receptive to restrained, slice-of-life storytelling.
Point of View
Then the terror they project is entirely craft, not personality. That is a remarkable thing for a mainstream audience to sit with. The deeper question 'Parivarik ManuRanjan' poses is whether Tripathi's restraint — his ability to disappear into ordinary men — will find the same cultural traction as his iconic anti-heroes. OTT platforms increasingly reward exactly this kind of invisible acting, and if the film lands, it could reshape the parts he is offered next.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Parivarik ManuRanjan and when does it release?
'Parivarik ManuRanjan' is a streaming film starring Pankaj Tripathi and Aditi Rao Hydari, releasing exclusively on SonyLIV on 13 November 2026. It features Tripathi in a low-key, family-oriented role as Ranjan Dubey.
How does Pankaj Tripathi describe his character Ranjan Dubey?
Tripathi describes Ranjan Dubey as the character closest to his real personality, saying he does not need to 'act' for this role the way he did for Kaleen Bhaiyya or Sultan Qureshi. He called the performance 'more free-flowing' and 'more me'.
How is Ranjan Dubey different from Kaleen Bhaiyya?
Kaleen Bhaiyya from 'Mirzapur' is a commanding, menacing character that Tripathi says is 'difficult to ignore', requiring deliberate effort to portray. Ranjan Dubey, by contrast, is an ordinary, unremarkable character who is 'difficult to notice' — and much closer to Tripathi's own nature.
Who is Aditi Rao Hydari in Parivarik ManuRanjan?
Aditi Rao Hydari is Pankaj Tripathi's co-actor in 'Parivarik ManuRanjan'. Both were present at a media interaction in Goregaon East, Mumbai ahead of the film's SonyLIV premiere.
Why does Pankaj Tripathi seek variety in his roles?
Tripathi has explained that just as one cannot eat the same food every day regardless of how good it is, actors need variety to stay creatively engaged — and so do audiences. He views alternating between iconic, larger-than-life characters and quiet, grounded ones as essential to his craft.
