Actor Pankaj Tripathi had more confidence in his wife, Mridula, managing his busy career than she had in her own abilities.
Mridula, who left her teaching job to become Pankaj’s manager, admitted that she struggled initially, which caused him to miss out on several key projects during a financially critical time.
In a recent episode of Conversations with Atul, Mridula discussed her role as Pankaj’s manager, emphasizing the need to be “tough.” She explained that her deep understanding of his personality made her the best choice for the job. Initially managed by an agency, Pankaj encouraged her to take over, despite her lack of industry knowledge.
Mridula reflected on how Pankaj explained her responsibilities, which included attending meetings, reading scripts, and negotiating deals, highlighting the challenge of adjusting to her new role.
She warned Pankaj that he might lose some opportunities during her learning process, which indeed happened, but he reassured her that mistakes were part of the journey. Eventually, she became more competent in managing his career.
Now, everyone in the industry recognizes her as both his wife and manager, which leads to assumptions about her negotiating style. She clarifies whether she is acting as a wife or a manager before discussions, acknowledging the challenges of shifting from teaching to handling financial negotiations.
Mridula mentioned that Pankaj has faith in her abilities, and she humorously adds that she sometimes threatens to quit as his manager. He jokes about how he can’t be angry at home or work because she is involved in both aspects of his life.