Panchayat star Durgesh Kumar recalls his struggles, quirky habits, love for Mahadev, and how memes turned him into a fan favorite
Mumbai: The man who gave us the unforgettable punchlines “Aluha Meeting!” and “Dekh Raha Hai Binod?” is finally sharing his real-life journey. In an exclusive conversation with journalist Rohan Dua, actor Durgesh Kumar, best known as Banrakas/Bhushan Sharma from Panchayat, opened up about his long and bumpy road from Motipur, Bihar to Mumbai’s entertainment world.
The actor, who has become a social media sensation after the release of Panchayat Season 4 in June, traced his humble beginnings in Darbhanga and Motipur, to financial struggles in Mumbai even after graduating from the National School of Drama (NSD). Despite hardships, his love for acting never wavered.
💡 Durgesh revealed his 25-year obsession with acting theory, his unusual habit of collecting 23 cookers, and confessed he often survives on 40–50 cups of chai a day. “Acting is not just a career for me, it’s my lifelong sadhna,” he said.
Talking about Panchayat, he shared unseen stories from behind the scenes, the fun camaraderie with co-stars, and how the show’s meme-worthy dialogues transformed him into an online sensation. He also spoke of his unshakable devotion to Mahadev, faith in the 12 Jyotirlingas, and his attachment to village culture, which grounds him despite fame.
Reflecting on the turning point, he said memes and Season 4 gave him recognition he had never imagined. “I am still the same Banrakas who loves his chai, his village, and his Mahadev. Panchayat just gave me the stage,” he smiled.
Before signing off, Durgesh delighted fans by performing his top 5 Panchayat dialogues in his original style — including “It’s a natural beauty” and of course, “Meeting Meeting!”
✅ Key Takeaways from the Interview:
- Journey from Darbhanga → Delhi → Mumbai
- Post-NSD struggles & financial hardships
- Panchayat BTS stories & viral dialogues
- 25 years of acting obsession & theory
- Quirky cookers collection & chai addiction
- Deep faith in Mahadev & village culture
- How memes & Panchayat changed his life