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Shweta Tripathi praises Jitendra Kumar for replacing Vikrant Massey as Bablu in Mirzapur The Movie, saying he has done “full justice” to the role.
Shweta Tripathi praises Jitendra Kumar for replacing Vikrant Massey as Bablu Pandit in Mirzapur The Movie.
Jitendra Kumar’s casting as Bablu Pandit in Mirzapur: The Movie had sparked mixed reactions when it was first announced. The character was previously played by Vikrant Massey, and fans of the franchise had closely associated Bablu with his performance. Following the film’s theatrical release and successful box-office run, Shweta Tripathi has now spoken about Jitendra taking over the role.
Shweta, who is an integral part of the Mirzapur franchise, said that Jitendra faced the additional challenge of entering a cast that had already spent years working together. Speaking to NDTV, she praised the actor for settling into the group and delivering his own version of Bablu without taking anything away from Vikrant’s portrayal.
Shweta Tripathi Praises Jitendra Kumar’s Bablu Pandit
Shweta said the Mirzapur cast has grown into a close-knit group after working together for nine years. For Jitendra, therefore, joining the team meant walking into an already established equation.
“What Jeetu has done is not easy. On Mirzapur, we are a family. We could be intimidating, we all have been together for nine years. But he made a full Bablu-type entry. We didn’t come to know how he managed to pull it off. But now he’s a part of our core group. Be it work or party, he has to be there. And he makes fantastic mutton! He has done full justice to a different version of Bablu and not taking away anything from Massey. He is a fantastic actor which all of us know,” Shweta said.
Jitendra replaced Vikrant Massey as Bablu Pandit for the film. His casting had initially divided fans who remembered Vikrant from the series, but Shweta said Jitendra has done justice to a “different version” of the character.
Shweta Tripathi And Jitendra Kumar Reunite After Gone Kesh
Shweta and Jitendra already knew each other as co-stars before Mirzapur: The Movie. They had previously worked together in the 2019 film Gone Kesh, and Shweta recalled wanting to collaborate with him again after their first project.
“Our chemistry was very loved in Gone Kesh and I wanted to work with him again after that film. It was my birthday when we were finishing the shoot of Gone Kesh and he sent me a plant as a gift in a very cute pot. We still have that plant. He is one of those people with whom you just connect. Jeetu is one of those people. It’s not just me, the entire cast welcomed him with open arms,” she said.
According to Shweta, the familiarity they already shared also helped them while working together again. She added that Jitendra was welcomed by the entire Mirzapur cast and has since become part of their core group.
Jitendra Kumar Takes Over Bablu From Vikrant Massey
Bablu Pandit was originally portrayed by Vikrant Massey in the Mirzapur series. When the franchise moved to the big screen, Jitendra Kumar was brought in to play the character.
Shweta’s comments come after Mirzapur: The Movie arrived in cinemas and completed its first week at the box office. While acknowledging Vikrant’s association with Bablu, she maintained that Jitendra has created a different version of the character and done “full justice” to it.
More About Mirzapur: The Movie
Directed by Gurmmeet Singh, Mirzapur: The Movie was released in theatres on September 4, 2026.
The film features Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Ravi Kishan, Divyenndu, Jitendra Kumar, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Shweta Tripathi. Jitendra appears as Bablu Pandit, taking over the part previously played by Vikrant Massey in the series.
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Ask News18Jitendra Kumar plays Bablu Pandit in Mirzapur: The Movie, taking over the role from Vikrant Massey, who originally portrayed the character in the series.
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Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he\’s breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he’s always…Read More
September 11, 2026, 18:16 IST