Mahua Moitra recalls the time when she sent a 'love note' to Mirzapur's 'Kaleen Bhaiya'; here's what happened next
Politicians aren't immune to celebrity crushes—and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra just offered proof. In a refreshingly candid interview, Moitra admitted she has long admired actor Pankaj Tripathi, so much so that she once wrote him a note asking him out for coffee.
Speaking to India Today, the outspoken parliamentarian shared her fondness for Bollywood and named films like Vicky Donor and the Munnabhai series among her favourites. But it was Tripathi, best known for playing the menacing yet charismatic Kaleen Bhaiya in Amazon Prime Video's hit series Mirzapur, who she called her 'crush'.
'I'm a big fan of Pankaj Tripathi,' she said, adding, 'I wrote him a note and asked for coffee.'As she recounted, the note was passed to Tripathi via a TV anchor who was scheduled to interview him. But the meeting never materialised. 'He never responded,' Moitra said with a laugh, suggesting that perhaps the actor—who lives in Alibaug—is 'not the kind of guy who meets people for coffee.'
The MP said her admiration for Tripathi didn't end there. She even turned to fellow Lok Sabha MP and Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan for help. 'I asked Ravi Kishan to make me talk to him. Ravi arranged a phone call,' she recalled. But when the call finally happened, she was too starstruck to say much. 'I was so shy that I forgot I'd even written him a note!'
Pankaj Tripathi, known for his nuanced performances in critically acclaimed films like Newton, Stree, Mimi, and Masaan, has become one of India's most respected and versatile actors. His portrayal of Kaleen Bhaiya—a ruthless kingpin with a calm demeanour—in Mirzapur earned him cult status and a fan base that clearly includes admirers in the highest political circles.While the coffee never happened, Moitra's fangirl moment has certainly added a charming footnote to the actor's ever-growing legacy—and reminded many that behind the sharp political speeches are people with relatable soft spots.
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