Veteran actor Pankaj Tripathi recently reflected on his memorable experience working on Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur during an interview with News18 Showsha. Known for his role as Sultan Qureshi in the acclaimed crime drama series, Tripathi shared insights into the unique atmosphere of the film's sets.

Tripathi, who will soon be seen in Amar Kaushik's Stree 2, has been a prominent figure in the Hindi film industry for over a decade. He first gained widespread recognition through his performance in Kashyap's two-part film Gangs of Wasseypur. Recalling the shoot in Uttar Pradesh's winter, he noted the absence of luxury amenities such as vanity vans, which are now commonplace on film sets.

"The atmosphere on the Gangs of Wasseypur set was quite different from what I experience today," Tripathi said. "Back then, we didn’t have vanity vans. We were all from theatre backgrounds and would sit outside on chairs, engaging in conversations for hours. It was a very different, communal experience."

Interestingly, Tripathi's role as Sultan Qureshi was initially offered to actor Pankaj Jha. Due to Jha's unavailability, Kashyap cast Tripathi, who delivered a standout performance. Kashyap later revealed that his tight budget and shooting schedule necessitated the casting change.

The Gangs of Wasseypur saga, set against the backdrop of Dhanbad's coal mafia, spanned 68 years from 1941 to 2009. The film featured a stellar ensemble cast, including Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chadha, Jaideep Ahlawat, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Tigmanshu Dhulia, and Huma Qureshi, among others. The first part premiered in June 2012, followed by the second in August of the same year, earning its place as one of the greatest film series of all time.

As Pankaj gears up for the release of Stree 2, he is also preparing for his role in Anurag Basu's Metro... In Dino, a sequel to the 2007 film Life... in a Metro. Stree 2, starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor, will hit theaters on August 15, coinciding with Independence Day, while Metro... In Dino is set for release on September 13.