Controversial filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, currently promoting his forthcoming online streaming service Bad Cop, has finally responded to the remarks made concerning Pankaj Tripathi’s casting in Gangs of Wasseypur. Just last week, Pankaj Jha, another actor had claimed that Anurag had promised him the role of Sultan in the film which later went to Tripathi.
Anurag Kashyap Reacts to Pankaj Jha’s allegations
When he spoke to India Today recently, Anurag said: “I do not remember anything specific about it. But we were shooting for The Girl in Yellow Boots and he had gone to Pune at Osho Centre to paint stuff. Now this is where we get into Gangs of Wasseypur and (Pankaj Jha) wasn’t available.”
Expanding on this statement further he continued while saying “We couldn’t afford waiting for him as we made the film under such different conditions and budget. He is thinking now after 20 years I could have been Pankaj Tripathi.” And ended by noting “I’ve worked with him actually I would say he’s my go-to actor. We did Gulaal and Black Friday together. It’d be great working with him again but unfortunately he is totally unapproachable anymore.”
Pankaj Jha Denies targeting Pankaj Tripathi and Anurag Kashyap
It should be noted that there has been no derogatory statement issued by Jha towards Pankaj Tripathi who played Sultan impressively as a result critics received well at a critical level for this matter. Speaking exclusively to Indian Express about these statements, Mr. Jha clarified that it was media reports which exaggerated his comments and quoted him stating that “I never mentioned any name of any Tripathi.” Furthermore, he added that “This news does not make any sense. He is a very good friend of mine, Pankaj Tripathi. We have made films together. I am his senior by the way in the industry. He came much later; I have been in this industry for a long time. Similarly Anurag Kashyap is my friend and brother too at the same time as we made films Gulal and Back Friday.” Why would I go about talking bad things about them? All these news of me calling him spineless are all things twisted and made up.”
On his professional front, Pankaj Jha has been garnering accolades for performance in Panchayat season 3 whereas Anurag awaits release of his OTT movie Bad Cop mentioned earlier. Meanwhile, Pankaj Tripathi is all set for his popular web show Mirzapur season 3 which starts streaming from July 5th onwards.
