Ashok Pathak decodes his viral breakthrough as Binod in Panchayat. Here's his story

India Today

7 hours ago

For actor Ashok Pathak, aka our beloved Binod from 'Panchayat', the phone hasn't stopped ringing ever since the fourth season of the popular TVF franchise premiered on Prime Video. While he is patiently taking out time from his schedule to thank each one of his fans, he confesses to enjoying his moments of fame as he still battles with his tears looking at the love across.advertisementWhile sharing his emotions with India Today.in, Pathak said, 'I've been in tears for the past two days, overwhelmed by the flood of emotional messages from fans. One fan even created a reel on my character that has garnered thousands of views and comments on it. I've spent the entire day crying in my vanity van, and my makeup artist is finding it hard to do my makeup through the tears.'When Binod's character was first introduced in 'Panchayat 2' (2022), he was little more than a background presence, rarely seen and hardly taken seriously. But who would have thought that a single dialogue from the actor would make his presence pivotal to the very pulse of Phulera. advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by prime video IN (@primevideoin)
Binod is that hilariously naive sidekick in the show whose innocent expressions and unintentional comic timing will have become meme material, endearing him to audiences and earning him love.From the iconic dialogue like 'Dekh rahe ho Binod' in 'Panchayat 2' to the powerful 'Gareeb hain par gaddar nahi,' in Season 4, his character has evolved from being just another villager to a pivotal presence who elevates the narrative depth of the series. What was once a background role now carries emotional weight, adding layers to the story like never before.However, the actor was unaware initially that his dialogues from the series could trigger a meme fest and that it would leave many relating to the same.'I had no idea that my dialogue in the second season would become so popular. I approached it just like any other project I had done before. My role in that season was quite small, and with such a large ensemble cast, I honestly didn't think people would even remember me. But the day after the release, the kind of response I received left me completely numb. It all started with the toilet scene, where my line, 'Yahin ha**enge hum', went viral almost instantly. Then came 'Dekh rahe ho Binod,' which sparked a meme fest and even trended on X at the time. Suddenly, everyone was calling me Binod. It was surreal.'advertisementOften seen in the shadow of Bhushan Kumar aka Banrakas or lurking in the margins of panchayat meetings with his friend Madhav, Binod initially appears to be just another quiet bystander. But as the show progresses, particularly by Season 3, Binod's quiet demeanour begins to reflect something deeper.By the end of the third season, the writers begin to subtly layer Binod's character with complexity. He's still mostly quiet, but his silence now carries weight. There's a noticeable shift in his reactions, his pauses, and the way he observes the shifting power dynamics in Phulera. His loyalty isn't as automatic, and he begins to act more as a self-thinking individual than an extension of others' authority.While we can't get over his innocent expressions in the series, Pathak stated how he just had fun doing his part. View this post on Instagram A post shared by prime video IN (@primevideoin)'While preparing for Binod, I made sure to hold on to his essence. He may appear innocent, but he's certainly not naive. He feels deeply and has his own emotions. In Season 4, a scene where Binod is invited to dinner at Manju Devi's house, I made a conscious effort to show his neutral reactions when asked to switch parties and join theirs. I improvised my performance to stay true to the moment and did what the scene demanded of me,' the actor told us.advertisementPathak's character in the series might not have many revolutionary dialogues or scenes. However, he managed to leave an ever-lasting impact and give goosebumps with his acting. Ashok Pathak's performance became a masterclass in restraint in the climax where Bhushan Kumar and Kranti Devi won the Panchayat elections.The actor shared that his performance even left everyone on set emotional.'The credit for that scene also goes to the director. It was actually shot on the very first day, and it took me a little time to ease into it. The joy of winning that election was clearly visible in the performance. Ever since that scene aired, my Instagram has been flooded, it's practically crashed from all the love,' he said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ashok Pathak (@ashokpathakt)advertisement'From the beginning, I had a feeling that my character would stand out this season, especially because everyone on set kept telling me the same. But I didn't expect what happened during the climax shoot. The entire set turned emotional, everyone started crying and clapping for me. They were genuinely amazed. I still remember Faisal Malik hugging me and saying, 'You killed it and gave goosebumps.' I hadn't rehearsed the scene much, I just went with the flow and gave it my all,' Pathak concluded.From being the son of a daily wage worker and selling cotton for Rs 100 to making his Cannes debut in 2024, Ashok Pathak has come a long way, carving his own path in Indian cinema. His portrayal of Binod in the popular series adds depth to the show's fabric, making the character one of the most intriguing ones in 'Panchayat'. With all-time-high anticipation for the fifth season, it will be exciting to watch what different the actor will bring to the table with his prowess.- EndsTrending Reel