Pandit Banaras Tiwari, the father of acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi, breathed his last on Monday at the age of 99. Pankaj Tripathi has left for his village in Bihar to mourn the loss.
In an official statement from the family, it was expressed, “With a heavy heart, we confirm the passing of Pankaj Tripathi’s father, Pandit Banaras Tiwari. He lived a full life spanning 99 years. His last rites will be conducted today in the presence of close family members. Pankaj Tripathi is currently en route to his village in Gopalganj.”
In a past interview with Hindustan Times, the actor recounted his father’s aspirations for him, revealing, “My father wished for me to become a doctor. In my hometown of Gopalganj, situated in North Bihar, the prevalent career choices were either engineering or medicine. I hail from a farmer’s family. Our village is so remote that well-constructed roads are still absent.”
He continued, “My parents didn’t hold any unfulfilled dreams they wanted me to pursue. Their primary concern was whether I would have a secure livelihood. I reassured them that if I went to Delhi (Pankaj is an alumnus of the National School of Drama), I could even secure a government job. For middle-class families, a government job is seen as a stable choice. So, my father agreed.”
In another interview with Mashable, Pankaj Tripathi candidly shared that his father remained humble about his achievements, stating, “He isn’t overly proud of my accomplishments. He doesn’t comprehend the intricacies of my work in cinema. He has never seen the inside of a movie theater. He watches my work if someone shows it to him on a computer or the television, which was recently installed at my house.”