Pankaj Tripathi's language battle at IFFI

Pankaj Tripathi gave it back with spunk and a punchline like few can when an audience member at IFFI remarked how the actor can wear jeans but can't speak English. "You said one thing to me, that I wear jeans but don't know English. I want to say, 'Jis umar mein hum bhaasha seekhte hain, us umar mein mere paas jeans pehenne ka privilege nahi thha ('In the age we learn language, in that age I was not privileged enough to wear jeans')," Pankaj responded. The actor, whose most recent works ‘Mirzapur’ and ‘Sacred Games’ have been widely lauded, reserved his comment till half an hour into the panel discussion on 'Redefining Stories' at the 49th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here on Thursday.

Pankaj was as humble as always -- and chose to deal with his own ‘English Vinglish’ moment in his inimitable style. A debate of sorts ensued when an audience member urged the participants -- Rahul Bose, Nila Madhab Panda, Divya Dutta, Rajshri Deshpande and Pankaj, apart from moderator Aseem Bajaj -- to speak in English as it was an "international conference. "Uska kya jisko English nahi aati," Pankaj promptly asked.