In a completely unexpected fashion moment, veteran Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi, best known for his grounded persona and simple, traditional attire, has left the internet in a frenzy after debuting a strikingly maximalist and flamboyant new look on Instagram.
The dramatic transformation, which the actor captioned as “एक नई शुरुआत। This is the beginning of something interesting. How’s the ‘vibe’? #EkNayaUpgrade,” immediately ignited a debate among fans and celebrities, with many questioning whether the photos were real or an AI creation.
The ‘Upgrade’: Velvet, Brocade, and Bold Colours
The pictures show Tripathi in an ensemble that is a far cry from his signature low-key style. The outfit consisted of a long, velvet emerald green coat with intricate golden zari embroidery, layered over a black shirt with floral work. He paired this with heavily contrasting, bright orange, brocade dhoti-style pants featuring golden floral motifs. The bold look was completed with golden embellished loafers and a checkered cap, giving the overall attire a blend of vintage royalty and high-fashion drama.
Ranveer Singh’s Hilarious Reaction
The surprise was not limited to fans. Bollywood’s resident fashion chameleon, Ranveer Singh, whose own quirky style often makes headlines, left a witty and viral comment on the post, pointing out the amusing role reversal.
“Arre! yeh kya, Guruji ?! Hum sudhar gaye, aur aap bigad gaye?” (Oh no, Guruji?! I mended my ways, and you changed yours?), Ranveer quipped, much to the delight of the netizens. Other celebrities, including Tisca Chopra, who commented, “Peaky Blinders India sneak peak,” and Gulshan Devaiah, also cheered on the actor’s experimental new ‘vibe’.
Fans Question: Real or AI-Generated?
The sheer departure from his usual image led a significant number of fans to speculate if the pictures were a work of Artificial Intelligence. Comments flooded his feed, with netizens writing, “Relax guys, AI hai,” and “Yeh photo AI kyu lag raha.” One fan even humorously referenced his famous Mirzapur character, joking, “Kaleen bhaiya kaleen pehen liye.”
While the actor has not clarified if the photos are real or generated, the mystery has only amplified the buzz around his ‘Ek Naya Upgrade.’ The dramatic new look has sparked massive curiosity, with speculation mounting that the transformation might be linked to an upcoming film project, a brand collaboration, or a completely new artistic chapter.
On the work front, Pankaj Tripathi was recently seen in Metro… In Dino and will soon feature in the comedy-drama film Parivarik ManuRanjan and the highly anticipated web series Mirzapur: The Film.