Pankaj: There is so much average work happening

Pankaj Tripathi

, who recently received his second National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Mimi, opened up about the dearth of good talent in the Hindi film industry and said that there's a lot of

average work

happening around which makes anything applaudable that is slightly better.
Recalling one incident, Pankaj told Film Companion that a woman once asked him, 'when did you feel you are a great actor.’ To which, he replied saying that he still doesn't feel he is a great actor.

"Around us, there is so much average work happening that even something

slightly above average

seems great. I am nothing,” he added.
Pankaj

further explained that this is largely because he takes acting lightly and not as a matter of life or death. "It is the truth right now. I am honest. I won’t spare one dime in honesty but I know I have a limit. Beyond that, I can’t do much. That is why I never ask for retakes, never look at the monitor,” he said.

It was a happy coincidence that Pankaj received the best supporting actor

National Award for Mimi

, a day after he completed 20 years in Mumbai. Known for films like

Gangs of Wasseypur

, Masaan, Stree and web series Mirzapur and Criminal Justice, Pankaj started his career with an uncredited role in the 2003 Kannada film

Chigurida Kanasu

.

Today, the Bihar-born actor is known by several of his character names: be it Rudra bhaiya from horror comedy Stree or Kaleen Bhaiya from crime drama series Mirzapur. He will next be seen playing the role of former prime minister

Atal Bihari

Vajpayee in Main Atal Hoon. He will also be seen in Mirzapur 3 and Stree 2.