Pankaj Tripathi doesn’t have a microwave at home, was against installing an AC but his wife insisted: ‘The biggest fights we’ve had…’
Even though Pankaj Tripathi has risen to fame as one of the most in-demand actors in Bollywood, his wife continues to highlight the modest lifestyle they embrace.
Mridula, the wife of acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi, recently shared insights into the modest way of life they maintain even with his rising fame. She emphasized that their living standards remain unchanged despite his increasing popularity, highlighting the absence of a microwave in their home. Mridula mentioned occasional disagreements over mundane purchases such as plastic containers, and expressed her comfort in reaching out to him while he’s filming to inquire about household items’ locations.
During an interview on the Conversations with Atul YouTube channel, Mridula shared her experience of being the primary breadwinner for their small family when they initially relocated to Mumbai. At that time, Pankaj was not occupied with much work, leading to an agreement where she took on the responsibility of supporting them both. She mentioned that even after Pankaj began working, the major role of raising their daughter fell upon her, although he was always present. Mridula humorously recounted how Pankaj would always respond, even if he was preparing for a scene, and would return her call when he had a moment. She amusingly added, “My questions would be like, ‘Where did you keep the lentils that you brought?’ and he would inform me.
According to her, fame hasn’t altered him at all, and he still wanders around in khaadi attire. “At times, he playfully claims he’s a celebrity now and deserves some reverence. I shoot him a stern glance, and he goes quiet,” she chuckled. However, she confessed that they’d often argue about plastic usage. “He’s eco-conscious, so he’d constantly urge me not to purchase plastic storage items at the market. He’s clueless about managing a household; we can’t sustain on just one type of lentils and a bit of rice. We need those containers! Our disagreements over buying plastic containers were the highlights of my life,” she reminisced.
Mridula shared that their friends were taken aback by the lack of modern conveniences in their home. She mentioned, “Can you believe we still don’t own a microwave? My husband is convinced of the harmful waves they emit. When it comes to reheating food, we resort to using the stove, completely skipping microwaves. The debate over getting an air conditioner for our bungalow has been a constant point of contention! While our city house enjoys ample cross-ventilation, the bungalow tends to get quite humid. We’ve had numerous arguments about this. One day, as he sat perspiring in silence, I jokingly asked, ‘Feeling like getting that AC now?’ To my surprise, he agreed.
Mridula has taken on the role of managing her husband, a position she admitted to acquiring through challenging experiences. Since tying the knot in 2004, they have welcomed a daughter into their lives. Her husband’s most recent appearance was in a supporting capacity in the highly successful movie Stree 2, featuring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor in lead roles.