Pankaj Tripathi went unnoticed in early films such as Run (2004), and made an impact with his craft only in the 2010s, with roles in Gangs Of Wasseypur, Sacred Games and Mirzapur. It's been over a decade now since his debut, and the acclaimed artiste notes how India is recognising him only now, when he is 44.

"I am 44 years old and India knows me now. Better late than never," he said. However, Pankaj, who was born in Belsand, a village in Gopalganj District in Bihar, does not fuss about the challenges he has faced to reach this high in his career.