Read about how Pankaj Tripathi's wife, Mridula embodies true companionship, from supporting the actor behind the scenes to learning ways to manage the actor's work.
Pankaj Tripathi is one of the most skilled actors in Bollywood, but he did not achieve this alone. His wife, Mridula Tripathi has been with him every step of the way. And while we appreciate the actor on screen it is equally important to give some credit to the support behind the scenes.
In the latest episode of Conversation with Atul, Mridula Tripathi shared how her husband, actor Pankaj Tripathi had more faith in her than she did in herself. Mridula shared with Atul that she was not good at managing the actor's work when Pankaj first asked her to take on the role of his manager. Yet it was the actor himself who believed in her.
Mridula shared that she was a teacher before becoming Pankaj Tripathi's manager, and not a very good one. Pankaj lost a few projects in the early days of her being his wifeager, but his faith in Mridula did not budge. She further told Atul, how critical those days were as they needed the money, but Pankaj supported and reassured her.
When asked about being her husband's manager, Mridula replied that she has to be tough because she knows Pankaj very well, not just as an actor but as a person as well. She added that the actor was signed with an agency but things didn't go smoothly with them, so he convinced Mridula to be his manager.
Mridula further shared that she had no idea how the industry worked, or who to approach as everything was new to her. She stated:
"No one can handle him better than me. Earlier, he was being managed by an agency, but a few things happened, and he left them. He was the one who persuaded me to take this role of a manager. I had no knowledge about this because I was a teacher. I had no relation with the industry, I had no idea who is a producer, who is a presenter. All of this was new for me!"
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Mridula recalled how Pankaj briefed her about her duties as his manager. He told her that she would have to attend meetings on his behalf, read scripts and, even negotiate prices. She added that she informed Pankaj that he might end up losing some projects as she is not comfortable doing such exchanges. When he did lose a few projects he reassured her that she would mess up a few times, but then it would work out. She said:
"I told him that he might lose a few projects in this process, because I am not good at it, I am not instantly comfortable in such conversations. So, he did lose two-three projects at a time when it was important for him to get offers, to earn money. I felt things were going wrong because of me, but he clearly told me, 'Ek-do baar gadbad hoga, phir theek ho jayega'. Then I started and I think I manage him decently."
Mridula believes that it was because of Pankaj Tripathi's faith in her that she could handle everything. Sharing about the dynamics between the two she said that now she asks Pankaj directly who he is talking to, his wife or his manager. They have learned a way to maintain a healthy balance between the two roles and even though it was difficult, she did it. Mridula concluded by saying:
"So I always ask them upfront, 'Are you talking to the wife or the manager?' If I like the script, then of course, we can talk and take things ahead. See, it was a tough thing to do initially and I realised when someone pointed out how I was doing such a noble work of teaching, cut to here, where I had to discuss money, be cruel whenever needed, it is very difficult, but I did it. Because he always had that faith in me. Main beech beech mein dhamki bhi deti hu apne pati ko ki kaam chodh dugi tumhara and he often jokes that he is one man, who can’t get angry either at home or work, because the wife is everywhere!"
What are your thoughts on Pankaj and Mridula Tripathi's dynamics? Let us know.
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