Anurag Kashyap’s 2012 crime-saga Gangs of Wasseypur is widely remembered as a film that brought a new voice to the medium while also bringing in a dozen of new faces into the industry. One among them was Pankaj Tripathi. Anurag recently revealed in an interview that the actor was uncomfortable with his role of a butcher in the film.
During a conversation on the YouTube channel Game Changers, Anurag said, “For Pankaj Tripathi‘s role, we were thinking of casting Pankaj Jha, but he had gone to Pune. I had seen Tripathi’s work, but he is a very soft man in real life, though his eyes are dangerous. I made a vegetarian play the role of a butcher.”
He added, “Pankaj himself was very uncomfortable with it. Plus, my process was very new to him. He didn’t know what his role was and how it was shaping up. So, he was confused about what he’s doing. But he gave an excellent performance.”
Anurag also revealed that the film’s production house pulled out from backing the film just two days before it was set to go on floor as they didn’t believe Nawazuddin Siddiqui could portray the role of the gangster Faisal Khan. “I left my fees for the film. UTV was producing that film, and they said how will Nawaz play this role. They asked me to bring a big star. They left the film three days before the shooting began. My whole crew, actors were waiting for me,” Anurag said.
After that, co-producer Sunil Bora stepped in and helped finding a new studio for the film. “At that time, co-producer Sunil Bora spoke to Viacom and within two days this new studio came in and told us to make the film. For the sake of conviction, I said that I will leave my fees, but I am vouching for Nawaz,” added the filmmaker.
Meanwhile, Anurag’s latest directorial Nishaanchi was released in theatres earlier in September.
