Pankaj Tripathi: My bank balance does make me feel like a star; opens up on Stree 3 (Exclusive)

For Pankaj Tripathi, stardom isn’t about constantly being seen; it’s about being remembered. In a conversation with us, the actor, who has been keeping a low profile lately, reflects on fame, stepping back from work and finding solitude.‘Brands don’t approach good actors, they approach stars’About his personal definition of being a star, Pankaj, who sat for a fireside chat about stardom at WPP Media’s BREW 2026, says, “For me, it is basically people’s love, affection and brand endorsements. Because brands don’t approach you unless you are a star. They don’t approach just good actors, brands approach stars. So that is one definition as per the market, but for me, stardom means connection, trust and love from the audience.”When asked whether he considers himself a star today, he smiles and says, “I think my bank account feels that way, but I don’t.” Reflecting on whether he ever aspired to become a star, he explained, “For stardom, popularity is important. But along with popularity, one should also be memorable. People should remember your work. One shouldn’t just be popular – even infamy brings popularity. Naam ho, but naam memorable ho. I never tried to be popular, but I have definitely tried to be memorable.”‘When you are in solitude, you meet yourself’Pankaj, who had earlier spoken about wanting to slow down professionally, reveals that his break from work is still ongoing. “It has been a good break. I’m still on one. I’m listening to stories and listening to my heart. I don’t want to do too much now. If I do two films a year, that’s enough for me. I’m spending a lot of time by myself. When you are in solitude, you meet yourself, not anyone else. That’s the phase I’m in right now – meeting myself,” he shares.Asked what he has discovered about himself during this phase, he jokes, “That I won’t tell you. Later, I’ll sell it in a book for `399.” He adds, “You cannot describe discovery. What you explore within yourself cannot be expressed so easily. Wisdom is difficult to explain. It’s like learning how to ride a bicycle – you don’t know exactly when you learnt it; one day, it just happens. What I have realised is that my knowledge is limited. So now I shouldn’t give too much gyaan and I shouldn’t do a podcast!”‘I want to stay out of sight’During his break, did he ever fear being out of sight, out of mind? He replies, “No, not at all. I want to stay out of sight. Even stars in the sky disappear for hours. Even the moon vanishes for fifteen days and then returns. It’s important not to be available everywhere, every day. You cannot appear in every paparazzi video, waving at people all the time,” he explains.Elaborating further, he says, “The ones who want to remain constantly discussed will find it difficult to go out of sight because discussions keep them alive. But memorable people remain alive regardless.”Stree 3 in the making?On a final note, when asked about Stree 3 and when it will go on the floors, he replies, “Director Amar Kaushik is the right person to talk about Stree 3. He is writing it right now, but they are currently busy with another film. So even I’m not sure about when Stree 3 will happen.”