Actor Pankaj Tripathi believes an alpha male need not be aggressive or arrogant, saying cinema should move beyond its chest-thumping portrayal of masculinity and present it as a quality associated with leadership rather than dominance.
The 50-year-old actor, whose upcoming film Parivarik ManuRanjan features a dialogue about becoming an "alpha", said the meaning of the term depends on how it is understood and portrayed.
In the recently released trailer of the film, Tripathi's character declares that it is time for him to become an "alpha". The actor said the dialogue, written by director Varun V Sharma, appears at a particular moment in the story and carries a context that audiences will discover when they watch the film.
"When you watch the movie, the line comes at a particular time. And whether it is a genuine sentiment of the character or whether he says it because he is inspired by a movie is something to watch out for. But what he does is a genuine act of being an alpha," Tripathi told PTI in an interview.
𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
Asked about the portrayal of toxic masculinity often associated with the term alpha male in Indian cinema, Tripathi said he did not subscribe to the idea that masculinity must be expressed through aggression or arrogance.
"If you remove arrogance from alpha and look at it as a leader, then it is not a bad thing. But cinema has created a different image of alpha, like it is about chest-thumping," he said.
The actor argued that storytelling should introduce audiences to different interpretations of masculinity rather than reinforcing a single stereotype.
Citing his role as a supportive father in Gunjan Saxena, Tripathi said several of his characters embodied leadership without resorting to intimidation or aggression.
"If you see my characters, barring a few, they are alpha but in a different sense. Like the role of the father that I played in the film 'Gunjan Saxena', he is giving freedom to the girl and he has a different point of view," he said.
Tripathi added that cinema should allow viewers to encounter different perspectives and decide for themselves what qualities they wish to adopt.
"And this is the purpose of storytelling, wherein we should show society not just one meaning or perspective of alpha, and then let people choose, decide and behave as to what kind of alpha they want to be in real life," he said.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗮 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲
Reflecting on the influence of films and television on society, Tripathi pointed to the growing popularity of black Scorpio SUVs in Purvanchal, the region where his popular crime series Mirzapur is set.
He said the automobile manufacturer had informed him about increasing demand for the vehicle, which is prominently used by members of Kaleen Bhaiya's team in the series.
"So, whether cinema is inspired by society or vice versa, sometimes the lines get blurred," he said.
Kaleen Bhaiya remains among the most recognisable characters of Tripathi's career. However, despite the popularity of the crime drama, the actor said his personal preferences were quite different from the violent world depicted in Mirzapur.
He described the series as a departure from the kind of cinema he naturally enjoys, saying he is more drawn to slice-of-life comedies and stories rooted in everyday experiences.
"For me, 'Mirzapur' is a departure. In reality, this is who I am, this is the kind of cinema that I like, it aligns with my taste. That ('Mirzapur'-kind of films and shows) I do as part of my profession. If given an option, I would prefer something like this; simple, slice-of-life stories truly appeal to me as a viewer," he said.
𝗔 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿
Parivarik ManuRanjan revolves around Lucknow's most eligible bachelor, played by Tripathi, whose life takes an unexpected romantic turn when a charming househelp, portrayed by Aditi Rao Hydari, enters his world.
The story unfolds through a series of romantic and comic situations, with the actor hoping the film will appeal to families and provide an enjoyable community viewing experience.
Reflecting on his career in 2026, which also saw him feature in the box-office hit Mirzapur: The Movie, Tripathi said professional success remained unpredictable, while personal growth was a continuous journey.
"An actor's fortune changes every Friday, but a person's fortune changes every single morning. Each day brings us a lot of opportunities to grow and learn," he said.
The film is scheduled to premiere on Sony LIV on November 13.
Directed by Varun V Sharma, Parivarik ManuRanjan also stars Mukesh Tiwari, Brijendra Kala, Sunita Rajwar and Vijayant Kohli.
The film is backed by Vinod Bhanushali of Bhanushali Studios Limited and Himanshu Mehra, with filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar serving as creative producer through his banner AAZ Films.