Pankaj Tripathi on Parivarik ManuRanjan: 'It’s like slow cooking; reminded me of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s brand of cinema'

The upcoming film Parivarik ManuRanjan will see Pankaj Tripathi enter a softer, more intimate realm, a departure from his usual nuanced and sophisticated roles in cinema and streaming. The actor recently spoke about the movie with an air of subdued pleasure, casting it as a deliberate return to human-centric, slice-of-life narratives.

"Slow cooking" narrative without melodrama

In an interview with Mid Day, Tripathi was effusive in her praise of the film's narrative, calling it "a very beautiful story" that was both subtle and captivating. The film, he said, stays away from the usual melodramatic tropes, much like a slow, meticulous cooking process. The actor stated, "It’s not a big drama; there are no loud twists. It’s like slow cooking. You’ll like those small moments that stay with you even after the film ends."

Tripathi stars alongside Aditi Rao Hydari in the film, which was co-written and directed by Varun V Sharma and Vijay Kala and produced by Ali Abbas Zafar. While describing his time on set with his new co-star, the actor gushed about her authenticity. He remarked, "Aditi is sincere and hard-working," and went on to say that one of her performances had especially moved him. The actor added that she seemed so at ease and natural in one of her sequences, and he was pleasantly shocked by how stunning it was. He also said, "It’s always nice when a co-actor makes you feel that way."

ALSO READ: Parivarik ManuRanjan: Pankaj Tripathi and Aditi Rao Hydari to bring love and laughter to Lucknow

Drawing inspiration from classic Hrishikesh Mukherjee films

Tripathi compared the film to classic Indian cinema, known for its straightforward and approachable stories, and expressed that the rhythm and theme immediately resonated with him. He revealed, "It reminded me of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s brand of cinema — small, human stories about life as it is. Parivarik ManuRanjan is like that. It’s just honest."

The actor thinks the "feel-good" genre deserves a comeback, not out of sentimentality, but to help diversify Bollywood. He expressed his displeasure with what he calls a "unilineal definition of cinema and art". "Somewhere, we’ve started believing that only serious, intense stories are real cinema. But that’s not true. Cinema is also about filling the void in your life—that small emptiness that laughter, warmth, or a quiet moment can fill," Tripathi argued.

Enduring value of subtle storytelling

He used his most recent project, Metro... In Dino, which he described as "a slice-of-life picture with repeat value", to illustrate this format's usefulness. The durability of such subtle storytelling is what matters most to Tripathi. "That’s the beauty of slow and calm storytelling — it grows with you."

He compared it to the gritty, high-stakes universes of his hit streaming series. Tripathi said, "You binge it once, you discuss it, and you move on. It’s thrilling — but it doesn’t call you back again and again." Parivarik ManuRanjan, on the other hand, is a film that encourages repeated viewing. He also said, "Parivarik ManuRanjan is the kind of film you want to sit with again—maybe on a rainy day or a quiet Sunday. It gives you peace."

Finding entertainment in silence and subtlety

Tripathi is still dedicated to promoting this more subdued kind of entertainment, even if he will soon be returning to the intricate stories of Mirzapur and Criminal Justice 5. As a last thought on the benefits of quiet, he said, "There’s entertainment in silence too. You just need to look for it."

FAQs:

Q: What is the title of Pankaj Tripathi's new film?

A: The new film Pankaj Tripathi is discussing is titled Parivarik ManuRanjan.

Q: Who is the director of the film Parivarik ManuRanjan?

A: The film Parivarik ManuRanjan is being directed by Varun V Sharma, who also co-wrote the script with Vijay Kala.

Q: Who is Pankaj Tripathi's co-actor in Parivarik ManuRanjan?

A: Pankaj Tripathi's co-actor in Parivarik ManuRanjan is Aditi Rao Hydari. Tripathi praised her performance, calling it "so natural, so effortless."