The highly awaited Panchayat season 3 has been in the headlines since its recent Amazon Prime Video release. Pankaj Jha, who has gained a dedicated fanbase for his portrayal of Vidhayak Ji, recently made headlines with his remarks about his past experiences with Anurag Kashyap and Pankaj Tripathi.
“Can’t even keep their word”: Panchayat’s ‘Vidhayak ji’ Pankaj Jha on Anurag Kashyap
Panchayat’s Pankaj Jha did not hold back in his criticism of director Anurag Kashyap, calling him spineless for not honoring commitments. Jha revealed that he was initially approached for a role in Gangs of Wasseypur. However, he was later replaced by Pankaj Tripathi. This role significantly catapulted Tripathi into the limelight, leading to recognition among the audience.
In a recent interview with Digital Commentary, Jha expressed his disdain for behind-the-scenes politics. “I don’t care about the politics that happens behind my back. The person doing it wins only if it harms me. Those who engage in politics behind someone’s back are generally cowards, right? Otherwise, they would have come forward, upfront,” Jha stated.
Pankaj Jha’s frustration stems from his long-standing relationship with Kashyap, having worked together on films like Black Friday and Gulaal. Panchayat’s ‘Vidhayak ji’ Pankaj Jha was approached for the role of Sultan Qureshi in Gangs of Wasseypur but was later informed that someone else had been cast.
“While films like Satya and Gulaal create actors, they also make directors. But there are so many timid and spineless people here that they can’t even keep their word,” Jha said. He recounted receiving a message from Kashyap while he was shooting in Patna, only to find out later that the role had been given to someone else.
Despite the setback, Vidhayak ji aka Pankaj Jha maintains a cordial stance with the filmmaker. “Nevertheless, I still love Anurag very much and have no complaints against anyone,” he said. Now, the actor’s recent success with Panchayat has only further solidified his fan base.
