Pankaj Tripathi is currently busy promoting his upcoming film Oh My Dog, a project that has already created buzz for a very unusual reason. The actor agreed to work in the film without charging any money. The decision came from his long friendship with director Amit Rai, with whom he previously worked on OMG 2. While Tripathi is out there doing promotions for the film, he originally told the team not to include him in the promotional events at all. The movie is set to hit theatres on August 7, 2026, after a small delay from its original July 31 date.
Director Amit Rai recently launched the film’s first song Chota Bacha 2.0 to start the promotional campaign. The track is a recreated version of a popular 1990s song and is now available on the Tips YouTube channel.
Friendship Over Fees For Pankaj Tripathi
The most talked-about part of Oh My Dog is that Pankaj Tripathi decided to do the film without taking any payment. When director Amit Rai shared this news, it became a major talking point. For Tripathi, the choice was not about money but about supporting a friend.
Speaking about his decision, Tripathi explained that there was never any discussion about payment before he agreed to be part of the project.
In friendship, you don’t ask all this. You just ask, ‘How many days of mine do you want?’ and I shot for those days. I only asked him to share the dates with me. I even told the director and the team, ‘Don’t include me in the promotions also.
When asked if he is now at a stage where he can afford to work for free, Tripathi gave a humble reply.
I feel if this film works and makes business at the box office, then they will give me something in return. Let’s see.
Tripathi also shared that he stayed longer than required for the shoot. Director Amit Rai asked him to shoot for four days, but Tripathi stayed for seven days. The actor played a teacher in the movie, which is led by child actor Maahi Rai.
What Oh My Dog Is All About
Oh My Dog is a family entertainer that tells the story of a young child who forms a special connection with a stray dog. The story is set in Bihar, which is Tripathi’s home state. The film explores the bond between humans and dogs, focusing on love, friendship, and kindness.
The movie also touches on a serious issue. The trailer shows that dogs are going missing in an area, leading to the discovery of a large racket involving pets. Tripathi’s character reaches out to a police officer to file a complaint and start an investigation.
The film features over 250 real dogs, including canine stars Bruno and Oscar. The cast includes Pawan Malhotra, child actor Maahi Rai, Rajesh Kumar, Geeta Agrawal Sharma, Vijay Mishra, and Sulakhyana Baruah. The movie is produced by Amit Rai, Sana Warsi, and Rajesh Bhardwaj under the banners of Babulal Biscope and Thinking Hats Entertainment.
Why Pankaj Tripathi Said Yes To The Film
Tripathi agreed to be part of Oh My Dog because he found the story meaningful. His friends Amit Rai and producer Ajay Rai approached him about a story set in Bihar.
Yes, it’s a very small role. I have worked for 5-6 days. I did it to support this film. My friends, Amit Rai and Ajay Rai, who is the producer of this film, told me that they are doing a story in Bihar. I said, what do you want from me? They said that they need my help. It’s a small part, which I did to support this film. I thought it was a good story.
Tripathi also spoke about his love for animals during the promotions. He said that animals only share love and do not carry memories or imagination, which often leads to conflicts in human life.
It’s a good thing with animals, they don’t remember anything. Animals have neither imagination nor memories. If you give them a little love, they will give you a lot of love in return.
Paid Previews And Release Date Details
Oh My Dog was originally scheduled for a July 31 release but was pushed to August 7 to avoid competition with Hollywood films like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey.
According to reports, the film will have paid previews on August 6 between 8 pm and 10 pm. Tickets for these preview shows are priced at Rs. 149. The decision to hold previews is usually seen for big-budget movies, but the makers of Oh My Dog have also chosen this route to create hype before the official release.
Early Reactions To The Film
The makers of Oh My Dog held a special screening in Delhi a few days ago. BJP politician and animal activist Maneka Gandhi watched the film and shared her thoughts.
The film was so true; every frame was authentic, sensitively shot. It was one of the best films I have ever seen.
What Pankaj Tripathi Said At The Trailer Launch
At the trailer launch event in Mumbai, Tripathi attended along with director Amit Rai, his son and child actor Maahi Rai, actors Pawan Malhotra, Shreedhar Dubey, Vijay Mishra, and the dogs Oscar and Bruno.
Tripathi made a light-hearted comment when asked about the support from A-listers for such films.
Am I an A-lister? Arre waah! Phir toh kar diya support (laughs)! Aaj media ne bol diya ki main A-lister hoon.
On a serious note, he explained why he chose to be part of the project.
This is genuinely the reason why I am a part of the film. The stars of the film are the (two dogs) followed by the child actor. The third star is Amit Rai, the creator of this film.
Tripathi also shared his honest thoughts about the film’s box office expectations.
This film is not meant to become a blockbuster or to earn Rs. 200 crores. We just hope it recovers its cost and interest and touches the heart of the people.
Also Read:
Mirzapur Movie Is Coming Next
While promoting Oh My Dog, Tripathi also spoke about another major project in his career. Mirzapur, the popular web series that made his character Kaleen Bhaiya a household name, is now being turned into a feature film. This will be the first Indian OTT franchise to make the transition to the big screen.
The film, titled Mirzapur: The Movie, is set for a theatrical release on September 4, 2026. Directed by Gurmmeet Singh, the movie will bring back fan-favourite characters including Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi), Guddu Pandit (Ali Fazal), and Munna Tripathi (Divyenndu). The cast also includes Rasika Dugal, Shweta Tripathi, Jitendra Kumar, Abhishek Banerjee, and Ravi Kishan.
Reflecting on the show’s journey, Tripathi said he never imagined a film would be made from the series.
I never thought, when I was doing Season 2, that a film would be made. There was no such concept that a web series would become a film. Mirzapur in India proved to be pathbreaking that way.
With Oh My Dog arriving in theatres on August 7 and Mirzapur: The Movie following on September 4, Pankaj Tripathi has a busy schedule ahead. His decision to support Oh My Dog without charging a fee shows his commitment to meaningful storytelling over commercial gains.
Also Read: The MBU Is Growing: How R Madhavan Is Building His Own Biopic Universe
Stay connected with VvipTimes for the latest updates on Bollywood movie releases, celebrity news, and upcoming film projects.
Leave a Reply