Pankaj Tripathi on playing Vajpayee in 'Main Atal Hoon': 'I'm very bad at mimicry'
Synopsis
Pankaj Tripathi admits he was 'very bad at mimicry' and nearly lost confidence on the first day of shooting 'Main Atal Hoon' — until he stopped trying to look like Vajpayee and started thinking like him. It's a rare, honest window into the craft dilemma at the heart of every Indian political biopic.
Key Takeaways
Pankaj Tripathi revealed he initially struggled with portraying Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the biopic 'Main Atal Hoon' .
He described himself as 'very bad at mimicry', creating early anxiety about capturing Vajpayee's mannerisms.
A difficult shot from his first day of filming was included in the film's trailer, which he said left him unsettled.
His approach shifted from physical imitation to capturing Vajpayee's inner thoughts, wisdom, and personality.
Tripathi is currently gearing up for 'Mirzapur: The Movie' , his next major project.
Actor Pankaj Tripathi has opened up about the creative struggle he faced while portraying former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the biopic 'Main Atal Hoon', revealing that his initial approach to the role left him deeply uncertain — and that a fundamental shift in thinking ultimately guided his performance.
The Early Challenge: Mimicry vs. Essence
Speaking on the chat show 'Shekhar Tonite', hosted by Shekhar Suman, Tripathi described the anxiety that gripped him during the film's early shoot days. 'I read a lot of books on Atal Ji. I saw his old speeches. And it was very challenging for me because I am very bad at mimicry,' he said. 'So I was in a dilemma about how much I will be able to mimic Atal Ji.'
He recalled that a particularly difficult shot — one that later appeared in the film's trailer — was filmed on his very first day. 'I was struggling with how much I will be able to hold the mannerism, or not. And that shot came in the trailer,' he admitted, adding that seeing it included left him unsettled: 'I was holding my head. I said, Why did they put this in the trailer?'
The Shift in Approach
Tripathi's breakthrough came when he redirected his focus from physical likeness to inner truth. 'The person is more what his thoughts are,' he explained. He acknowledged the weight of audience expectation that comes with any high-profile biopic in Indian cinema — the instinct to judge an actor on how closely they resemble the subject rather than how faithfully they capture the spirit.
'Atal Ji's story is not made for how Atal Ji looks. Atal Ji's story is important because of his journey, his wisdom, his thoughts, his personality,' Tripathi said. He also pointed to the unique challenge of depicting a public figure's private world: 'What Atal Ji thinks in his room, we have not seen that. We do not know that. So it was a big challenge.'
The Broader Debate on Biopics in Indian Cinema
Tripathi's candid reflection touches on a recurring tension in Hindi film biopics — the conflict between surface-level imitation and deeper character interpretation. Films portraying iconic leaders have historically drawn scrutiny over casting choices, with audiences often prioritising visual resemblance over dramatic authenticity. His comments suggest a deliberate artistic choice to resist that pressure.
Notably, 'Main Atal Hoon' arrived with considerable national interest given Vajpayee's stature as one of India's most beloved Prime Ministers. The film's reception reflected the difficulty of that balance.
What's Next for Pankaj Tripathi
Tripathi is currently preparing for 'Mirzapur: The Movie', the big-screen extension of the popular web series in which he plays the iconic role of Kaleen Bhaiya. The film is among the most anticipated Hindi releases in the pipeline, and his appearance on 'Shekhar Tonite' was in part a platform to discuss his broader body of work. His reflections on 'Main Atal Hoon' offer a rare, unfiltered look at the craft decisions behind one of Bollywood's more ambitious biographical projects.
Point of View
Directors claim artistic licence, and the subject's legacy quietly gets caught in between. That a performer of Tripathi's calibre felt shaky on day one of 'Main Atal Hoon' says less about his ability and more about the impossible standard the format imposes. The more interesting question mainstream coverage skips: does the biopic genre, with its pressure for surface accuracy, actually flatten the very figures it sets out to celebrate?
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Pankaj Tripathi struggle with his role in 'Main Atal Hoon'?
Pankaj Tripathi struggled because he describes himself as 'very bad at mimicry', making it difficult to replicate Atal Bihari Vajpayee's distinctive mannerisms and speech. His uncertainty peaked on the first day of filming, when a challenging shot was later included in the film's trailer.
How did Pankaj Tripathi change his approach to playing Vajpayee?
Tripathi shifted focus from physical resemblance to capturing Vajpayee's inner world — his thoughts, wisdom, and personality. He concluded that Vajpayee's story was significant not because of how he looked, but because of his journey and ideas.
What is 'Main Atal Hoon' about?
'Main Atal Hoon' is a biopic on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of India's most revered political figures. The film follows his life journey, political career, and personal philosophy.
What is Pankaj Tripathi's next film after 'Main Atal Hoon'?
Pankaj Tripathi is currently preparing for 'Mirzapur: The Movie', the theatrical adaptation of the hit web series in which he plays the iconic character Kaleen Bhaiya.
Where did Pankaj Tripathi speak about his experience on 'Main Atal Hoon'?
Tripathi made these revelations on 'Shekhar Tonite', a chat show hosted by Shekhar Suman, where he discussed his approach to the biopic and his upcoming projects.
