In this unforgettable episode of The Slow Interview, Neelesh Misra sits down with one of India’s most loved actors, Pankaj Tripathi. Known for his effortless performances in films like Gangs of Wasseypur, Stree, Newton, Masaan, Luka Chuppi and the Fukrey series, Pankaj Tripathi has carved a space in Indian cinema that is uniquely his own.But this conversation goes beyond films.Here, Pankaj Tripathi opens the doors to his childhood, his small-town memories, his family, his craft, and the quiet philosophies that guide his life. He speaks of the “छोटा सा शहर” that still lives within him, the lessons it continues to teach him, and how those roots shape the man he is today.He reflects on fame, simplicity, and responsibility with a rare honesty, saying, “As actors, we should not run away from our social responsibilities. Performing our duties honestly towards our nation… that itself is patriotism.”In this slow, thoughtful exchange, he even reveals a lesser-known side of himself — that he is a storyteller at heart, someone who can direct films and weave narratives with the same ease with which he performs them.This interview is more than a conversation.It is a gentle walk through memories, art, conscience and the small-town warmth that Pankaj Tripathi carries wherever he goes.बात बेबात पे अपनी ही बात कहता हैमेरे अंदर मेरा छोटा सा शहर रहता हैCome, listen to stories told slowly, the way they’re meant to be told.

Your beloved storyteller Neelesh Misra’s father, Dr. S B Misra is our young boy from this story. He grew up in the small village of Deora in Lucknow and walked miles to reach his school. He was lucky enough to receive the higher education he wished for, eventually became a geologist, and even excavated a fossil- the Fractofusus Misrai during his career.