A few years ago, actor Durgesh Kumar became famous because of one line he said in Panchayat season 2: “Dekh raha hai Binod.” This line turned into a viral meme and helped him land a bigger part in season 3. He also appeared in a film called Laapataa Ladies, which was even selected for an Oscar. Despite this success, Durgesh says he is still having a hard time finding new acting jobs.
In an interview with the Times of India, he shared, “It has been very tough. People know about my success in Panchayat, but I’ve been working for 12 years and it’s still a struggle. For the past year and a half, I haven’t had an audition call from major film companies. I mostly work with smaller producers who see my talent. The industry knows my work, but I still have to chase casting directors for auditions. Even after being in Highway and Panchayat, no big production house has offered me a lead role. Everyone knows me, but I haven’t received any big offers. I still go for auditions, and sometimes I get selected, but it’s unpredictable.”
Durgesh also mentioned that the films and shows he is part of often win awards, and many people like his work. However, he feels it’s unusual that he doesn’t get recognized more often. “Even after 25 years in this industry, I don’t get the credit I deserve. But I’m happy that the audience appreciates me,” he said.
Durgesh Kumar is a graduate of the National School of Drama (NSD) and started gaining attention with Imtiaz Ali’s movie, Highway, in 2014. Since then, he has appeared in popular films like Sultan, Sanju, Dhadak, and Bhakshak. He began as a minor character in Panchayat and has now become a main character by season 3.
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