The third season of ‘Panchayat’, currently streaming on Prime Video, is getting immense love from the audience. Among the stellar cast, Durgesh Kumar aka Bhushan, and Vinod aka Ashok Pathak had more screen time this season. Despite his current popularity, Durgesh's path to fame has been fraught with challenges.
Durgesh Kumar on depression
In an interview with Lallantop, Durgesh candidly discussed his struggles, revealing that he battled depression twice while striving to make it in the industry. "You need to be prepared psychologically, physically, mentally, emotionally and economically to be an actor. I have suffered depression twice in 11 years. Unless you are not psychologically, economically, and mentally healthy, please don’t come in the acting field. I am being brutally honest about it,” he told Lallantop.
On being mentally strong for trying to be an actor
Durgesh also warned aspiring actors about the harsh realities of the industry. “This is no place to try. This place is filled with crazy people. All the successful people you see today, including Manoj Bajpayee and Pankaj Tripahti, who were my seniors at the National School of Drama or even Nawazuddin Siddiqui, they are all half crazy people, nobody discloses this. Alone Pankaj Tripathi’s batch had 20 people. All of them equally talented, but do you see them anywhere? Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s batch had around 30 people, other than Nawazuddin, the only person who made his name in the industry is Nirmal Das, who got a role in Sarfarosh. Later, that man went crazy and is dead today. Nobody is aware of it. Do you see the struggle here? You really need to be mentally strong. If you are not, I request you, please never come to Bombay,” said the actor.” he said.
"I fell on their feet"
Reflecting on his journey, Durgesh recalled how he struggled despite having roles in films like ‘Highway,’ ‘Sultan,’ and ‘Freaky Ali.’ When he first arrived in Versova on May 28, 2016, he and his friends from Madhya Pradesh Drama School were determined to break into the industry. They made Aram Nagar their base and tirelessly sought opportunities, often pleading with casting directors for roles. "I fell on their feet to cast me in some role. All this, after having done Highway, Freaky Ali, and Sultan," he said.
His friends criticised him for his desperate efforts, but Durgesh remained resolute. "I said, ‘at any cost, I want to crack this.’ This is the kind of struggle and dedication it takes to survive in the industry," he noted. Despite the embarrassment of going for random auditions, he persevered, grateful for even small opportunities. "I just had one day’s role in Panchayat season 1. I shot for just 2.5 hours. I am really thankful to Chandan Kumar and Deepak Kumar Mishra who wrote the ‘Banrakas’ role. I am glad. I am not Irrfan, Nawazuddin, I am an average actor with survival instinct in me,” he said.
Durgesh's first film was Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Highway’ in 2014, starring Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt.