One of the most striking achievements of Prime Video’s Panchayat lies in its ability to turn even the secondary roles into cultural icons — a rare feat in Indian storytelling. Once seen as supporting characters, Banrakas (Bhushan), brought to life by Durgesh Kumar, and Binod, played by Ashok Pathak, have now become cultural icons, gracing city hoardings, lighting up meme pages, and inspiring everyday banter from metros to mohallas. This surge in popularity speaks volumes about Chandan Kumar’s authentic writing and Deepak Kumar Mishra’s grounded direction. Created by The Viral Fever and streaming on Prime Video, Panchayat has consistently struck a chord with audiences across generations. Bhushan’s antics and punchy one-liners made him instantly meme-worthy, while Binod’s silent expressions and understated presence prove that sometimes, all it takes is stillness to leave a lasting impact.
Durgesh Kumar shared, "When I shot for the first season of Panchayat, it was directed by Chandan Ji, who’s also the writer. Honestly, I never imagined it would become so popular. Then came Season 2 and 3, and now Season 4, directed by Deepak Mishra sir—and again, I had no idea it would grow this big. My reels, my dialogues—they went viral, and it felt amazing. I started to believe that maybe more work would start coming my way. This time, I had solo posters again—just like I did during Season 3 and when we celebrated 5 years of Panchayat. I was so happy. I went around the city with my friends, clicked pictures, and really celebrated the moment. My family was overjoyed. It feels like, slowly but surely, dreams do come true in this city. For the last six months, I’ve been shooting all over India, and people recognize me everywhere—as Bhushan Sharma, as Durgesh Kumar, as Banrakas. At every airport, at least 50-60 people stop me for photos, showering me with love. It’s truly overwhelming and heartwarming."
Ashok Pathak shared, “Binod barely speaks, so I never imagined he would become this popular. But somehow, his silence and subtle expressions struck a chord with people. The ‘Dekh raha hai Binod?’ meme just exploded—and suddenly, I was everywhere, without even saying a word. When I saw myself on a hoarding, it felt like a quiet victory. I was so overwhelmed by the love pouring in from across the country that I broke down in tears. I sent a picture to my father and told him, ‘Papa, I made it.’ Panchayat changed everything for me. It proved that even the smallest roles, when done with honesty, can leave the deepest impression.”
Produced by The Viral Fever, Panchayat S4 is created by Deepak Kumar Mishra and Chandan Kumar, written by Chandan Kumar, and directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra and Akshat Vijaywargiya. Returning to the screen are fan-favorite characters portrayed by a stellar ensemble cast, including Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Sanvikaa, Durgesh Kumar, Sunita Rajwar, and Pankaj Jha.
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