In a recent interview with Film Companion, Pankaj Tripathi, a highly acclaimed actor, unveiled his intriguing methods for delivering convincing performances. He confessed that during shoots, he exclusively consumes khichdi and has mastered the art of sneaking in a quick nap within a shot without anyone noticing.
Pankaj shared, “Main chalte shot mein so sakta hai. Roll, camera, rolling, line mera nahi hai, dusre ka line chalra hai, main dekhte dekhte (I can slip in the middle of a shot, I can sleep when the other actor is saying his lines) …I make it a part of acting as if the character is listening with his eyes closed. I blend it in a way that the director and audience think that I am listening with a lot of involvement when I say “Ya, ya..” ya ya ka matlab main ja raha hota hu (ya, ya means I going to sleep). Apni gardan ki muscles ko train karke rakha hu ki sona to hai magar jhukna nahi hai (I have trained my neck muscles in a way that I don’t nod down as I fall asleep).”
When asked about the connection between food and acting, Pankaj emphasized, “Jab tak humara pet, bataur abhineta, sahi nahi rahega na, usme aap kujh bhi ut patang khana dal do aur aap socho ki zarurat padne pe main correct mute kar dunga, pareshani hogi. Main isliye shooting ke din khichdi hi khata hu.” He preferred to cook it himself, avoiding external orders, as it allowed him to control the cooking process, omitting oil and spices. He adds homemade ghee, turmeric, and locally sourced vegetables to his khichdi, emphasizing the importance of light food to keep the brain and body in sync.