Panchayat's Pankaj Jha Calls Anurag Kashyap 'Timid And Spineless' For Replacing Him In Gangs Of Wasseypur
Pankaj Jha, known for his role as Vidhayak Ji in TVF’s Panchayat series, revealed that he was initially cast as Sultan Qureshi in Gangs of Wasseypur before losing the part to Pankaj Tripathi.
New Delhi: Pankaj Jha, known for his role as Vidhayak Ji in TVF’s Panchayat series, revealed that he was initially cast as Sultan Qureshi in Gangs of Wasseypur before losing the part to Pankaj Tripathi, in an interview with Digital Commentary. Directed by Anurag Kashyap, Gangs of Wasseypur has received critical acclaim and widespread praise from audiences.
Pankaj Jha talks about losing his Gangs of Wasseypur role
Sultan Qureshi is a pivotal character in Gangs of Wasseypur. Although Pankaj Jha was first chosen for the role, Pankaj Tripathi eventually played it. Jha had previously collaborated with Kashyap on Gulaal and Black Friday but not on this film. Jha recounted that he received the offer while filming in Patna and assured Kashyap he would return in two days. However, upon his return, the role had already been given to Pankaj Tripathi.
When asked by the hosts if industry politics bothered him, Jha, who starred in Black Friday, said it did not affect him. He believed that allowing it to hurt him would mean letting the 'backstabbers' win. When questioned whether playing Sultan could have altered his career trajectory like it did for Pankaj Tripathi, Jha expressed contentment with his current situation and mentioned he did not want to dwell on the past.
Pankaj Jha calls himself a director making actor
Pankaj Jha described himself as a "director-making actor" in his interview. He emphasized that films like Satya and Gulaal not only create actors but also shape directors. He remarked, "While films like Satya and Gulaal create actors, they also make directors. But there are so many timid and spineless people here that they can’t even keep their word." Despite his past experiences, Jha expressed no resentment towards Anurag Kashyap, adding, "Nevertheless, I still love Anurag very much and have no complaints against anyone."
About Pankaj Jha
Pankaj Jha, an alumnus of the National School of Drama (NSD), gained widespread recognition for his role as Vidhayak Chandrakishore Singh in the comedy series Panchayat. He began his career with Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding (2001) and has since appeared in several notable films, including Company (2002), Matrubhoomi (2003), Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003), and Anwar (2007).
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