Actor Jitendra Kumar says it was not easy to step into the world of Panchayat for the second season as he wanted to maintain the rhythm of the character without “overdoing” anything.
Released on May 20, the comedy-drama series, which captures the journey of an engineering graduate in rural India, received positive reviews from the critics and has been hailed for its impressive writing and performance.
The 31-year-old actor said the team knew that viewers were expecting a lot from them following the success of the first season.
“We had to better ourselves. As an actor, when you do a series, it is important to maintain the rhythm and yet not overdo it. It was a task to maintain the rhythm. So, we were relying completely on the writing,” Kumar told PTI in an interview.
To prepare for the second season, Jitendra revisited the first season and did extensive rehearsals with the writer, director, and his co-actors.
“I didn’t want to miss the rhythm of the season. Initially, there was a nervousness but within two-three days of commencing shoot for season two, things fell in place.”
The actor describes his character, an engineering graduate and a CAT aspirant who lands in the village for the lack of better job opportunities, as someone who is sensitive and a bit selfish.
“He wants to do certain things for himself, like for his career. He doesn’t express things all out. In season two, Abhishek is comfortable, he is very much involved with the situation of the village,” Kumar said, adding, that in real life he is different from Abhishek Tripathi.
The Alwar-born actor credits writer Chandan Kumar and director Deepak Kumar Mishra for creating a complex character in Tripathi.
“I don’t think any character or film has been made on the lines of ‘Panchayat’. I have relied on the writer and director to play this character. They had done the research for the show, so I used all that information for reference.
“I also saw some YouTube videos of how Panchayat meetings are held and what is the work of a sachiv,” he said.
“Panchayat”, created by The Viral Fever for the Amazon Prime Video, first premiered in April 2020.
Also starring Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Chandan Roy, among others, the first season was appreciated for exploring rural life and its people.
With “Panchayat 2”, Kumar said the team was hoping it will strike a chord with the audience as they believed it is a well-written script.
“We all thought our writer Chandan has written it better than the first one. So, we were quite hopeful that it will be liked by people, but there was a bit of nervousness. When the trailer came out, we saw the excitement of the audience and the fact that people have not forgotten the first season, which came two years ago,” Kumar added.
The set-up of “Panchayat” — which the actor said is unlike any other small-town story — has appealed to viewers, Kumar said.
“The presentation is different from whatever small-town stories that we have seen in the last 10-15 years onscreen. But what really clicked well with the audience was the halka-phulka (light-hearted) drama of the show.”
The show is currently streaming on Prime Video.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.