Pankaj Tripathi Named 'National Icon' By ECI, Recalls His First Experience Of Voting

ECI National Icon: Pankaj Tripathi was already a state icon for the ECI, having appeared in films and television shows such as Mirzapur, Sacred Games, Mimi, and Newton.

Actor Pankaj Tripathi has been named a "national icon" by the Election Commission of India (ECI) at an event on Monday. The actor was chosen for the award because of "his association with ECI in raising voter awareness." The announcement was made in the presence of the actor in Delhi by the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who expressed his gratitude. Later, CEC and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey launched a voter awareness radio series in collaboration with All India Radio.

Pankaj Tripathi has appeared in films and television shows such as Mirzapur, Sacred Games, Mimi, and Newton.

While congratulating the actor, CEC Rajiv Kumar stated that the decision to make him a national icon was made with his commitment to the cause and wide appeal across the country in mind. Pankaj was already a state icon for the ECI.

Pankaj Tripathi addressed the audience, recalling his experiences as a first-time voter. He claimed that the process granted him not only the right to vote, but also the right to be respected as a contributory voice in democracy.

The actor also urged all young voters to actively participate in the elections in order for their democratic choices to be reflected and their voices to be heard.

Pankaj, a National Award winner, has worked in the industry for nearly two decades. Pankaj rose to prominence as Sultan Qureshi in Anurag Kashyap's cult classic two-parter Gangs of Wasseypur after appearing in supporting roles in critically acclaimed films such as Omkara, Dharm, and Aakrosh (2012). He has since appeared in a number of commercially successful films, as well as popular web series such as Mirzapur and Criminal Justice.

Surprisingly, one of Pankaj's most well-known roles was in the electoral process. Newton, for which he won the National Award in 2017, starred him as a CRPF officer tasked with conducting elections in a conflict-ridden zone of Chhattisgarh's jungles. Pankaj will appear in the upcoming film OMG 2 alongside Akshay Kumar, Yami Gautam, and Arun Govil.