Durgesh Kumar, known for his role as Banrakas in ‘Panchayat,’ recently opened up about his acting career and the challenges he faced, including working in soft porn films to make ends meet. The actor, who debuted in Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Highway’ alongside Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt, shared his experiences and struggles, including battling depression.
Reflecting on his journey, Kumar said, “This industry is no place for the faint-hearted. It’s filled with crazy people. All the successful actors you see today, like Manoj Bajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who were my seniors at the National School of Drama, have had their own intense struggles. It takes immense dedication to survive here.”
He also spoke about the embarrassment of attending random auditions despite having a film background. “It’s humiliating to go for auditions when casting directors recognize you from previous work,” he admitted.
Kumar expressed gratitude for his role in ‘Panchayat,’ particularly the character of Banrakas, which has been well-received by audiences. “I had just a one-day role in the first season of ‘Panchayat,’ shooting for only 2.5 hours. I’m thankful to Chandan Kumar and Deepak Kumar Mishra for writing the Banrakas role. I’m not Irfan or Nawazuddin; I’m an average actor with a strong survival instinct,” he said. “I can’t live without acting. I took any work that came my way because I believed in my abilities.”
‘Panchayat’ season 3, which was released a few days ago, has received widespread acclaim. The series stars Jeetendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, and Raghubir Yadav, and continues to captivate audiences with its compelling storytelling and relatable characters.
Source – The Lallantop
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