Pankaj Tripathi struggled a lot to establish a foothold in Hindi cinema, and his wife, Mridula, became the breadwinner of their home and supported him throughout.
Pankaj Tripathi is one of the most talented and versatile actors in Bollywood. After initially hustling for a few years in the Hindi film industry, he got his breakthrough by playing the antagonist in the Gangs of Wasseypur franchise. Be it 'Kaleen Bhaiya' in Mirzapur or 'Rudra' in Stree, Pankaj has aced all his roles with finesse.
Throughout his struggling period, if there was anyone who believed in him, that was his wife, Mridula. In many interviews, Pankaj Tripathi has shared how his wife stood by him like a rock when he struggled to make a foothold in Hindi cinema. For the uninitiated, the actor tied the knot with the woman of his dreams, Mridula Tripathi, on January 16, 2004. The lovebirds were blessed with a daughter, Aashi, in 2006.
Pankaj was very passionate about cinema and was sure that he would only pursue acting and nothing else. However, the actor went through a lot of struggles to make a mark onscreen. When Pankaj was chasing his dream to become an actor, it was Mridula who happily became 'the man of the house' and worked as a school teacher to support their family.
In an episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati, Pankaj Tripathi revealed it was his wife, Mridula, because of whom he didn’t have to sleep at the railway station. Sharing details about the same, the actor stated how his wife took the responsibility of his entire house for eight years. In his words:
“I came to Mumbai in 2004 and Gangs of Wasseypur happened in 2012. For eight years, no one knew what I was doing. I didn't realise the hardship because my wife would teach kids, our needs were limited, we lived in a small house and she would earn so I lived easily. Mere sangarsh mein, Andheri station pe sona nahi include hua unki wajah se.”
Pankaj Tripathi had no income from 2004 to 2012, and despite the limited income, Mridula bore all the expenses and paid all his bills for eight years. In an interview with Navbharat Times, the actor recalled how he finds film offers waiting for him outside his home now, but there was a time when he would roam around the streets for a single role. Throughout that period, Mridula never asked him to quit his dreams of becoming an actor.
Pankaj met Mridula when she was studying in class ninth, and he was in class eleventh. It was love at first sight, and Pankaj clearly remembers the exact moment when he fell head-over-heels in love with Mridula. In an interview with ScoopWhoop, the actor revealed that he fell in love with Mridula in 1993 at his sister's wedding.
Slowly, Pankaj and Mridula fell in love and dated for 12 years, but getting married was difficult. Since Pankaj's sister and Mridul's brother were married, their families were sceptical when Pankaj and Mridula wanted to get married. However, they convinced their parents and began their forever journey together.
It was Mridula’s love and trust in her husband, Pankaj Tripathi, which made him a popular name in the Hindi cinema. What do you think about the lovely couple? Let us know.
Also Read: Pankaj Tripathi And Mridula's Love Story: From Finding A Groom For Her To Becoming Her Better Half