Pause is essential: Pankaj Tripathi at DU Lit Fest

The second day of the Delhi University Literature Festival saw Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi engage students in a packed interactive session titled “Nautanki”, where he spoke about perseverance, language and personal growth.

In conversation with Dr Shantanu Bose, Tripathi reflected on life, learning and the importance of patience in a fast-paced world. Drawing a parallel with a farmer waiting after sowing seeds, he said pause and stillness were essential to growth.

When asked for a message to Gen Z, the actor declined to sermonise, telling students, “You are already far ahead, there is no message for you,” prompting warm applause from the audience.

The session turned lively when students requested a film dialogue and Tripathi delivered a popular line: “You have come to this city as an employee; we are the owners here,” drawing cheers from the hall.

At the start of the programme, DU Culture Council Chairperson and DULF Core Committee Convener Anoop Lather felicitated Tripathi with a shawl. Responding to a question on politics, the actor said that while good people were needed in public life, his emotional nature would make it difficult for him to survive in politics.

Speaking about language and identity, Tripathi said he wished to work in Bhojpuri cinema, describing Bhojpuri as his mother tongue. He urged students to learn multiple languages while respecting their own linguistic roots.

Recounting his early journey, Tripathi said he had once aspired to study at Delhi University but could not secure admission due to low marks. He later joined the National School of Drama after leaving a hotel job in Patna, a move that shaped his acting career.

The festival also featured discussions beyond cinema. A panel titled “Halla Bol” included senior television journalist Anjana Om Kashyap, who interacted with students alongside DULF Coordinator Prof Deepti Taneja, sharing insights into the media profession.

With parallel sessions, cultural performances and literary discussions across venues, the Delhi University Literature Festival continued as a platform for dialogue between art, ideas and young audiences.