Exclusive! Neena Gupta Promises A Hilarious ‘Panchayat’ Season 2, Reveals The One Advice She’d Give Masaba
Suno suno suno! Sorry, I was just getting thoda into the zone, what with Prime Video revealing Panchayat Season 2 release date with a proper loudspeaker announcement and all that! The second season of the much-loved show from director Deepak Kumar Mishra, starring Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Chandan Roy and Faisal Malik amongst others, was all set to premiere on Friday, May 20. However, looks like Prime Video India’s internal panchayat committee decided to exercise their rights and drop in a treat for the fans by releasing the season two whole days early. Chalo badhiya! I’ve been super excited about what the new season has in store for the characters of one of my favourite shows of 2020, particularly that of the on-paper Pradhan of Phulera’s Panchayat, Manju Devi, played by the wonderful Neena Gupta.
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The last time I spoke to her, during the promotions for Panchayat Season 1, Neena Gupta and I talked about how Manju Devi was merely a figurehead despite being the rightfully elected Pradhan of Phulera. Meanwhile, her husband, played by the equally brilliant Raghubir Yadav, took charge of running the Panchayat as Pradhan Pati. It was a rather authentic portrayal of how women in rural areas are used by their husbands and other male relatives to simply avail the benefits of various government schemes for women, and then asked to return back to the kitchen and household duties. The women do so willingly too because they are not much concerned about holding power. But that doesn’t necessarily make them powerless.
At the end of Season 1, we see Manju Devi step up and realise that perhaps all that women like her need is the right kind of support from the system that encourages them to not shun their duties but actually take interest in them and perform them. The belief that they can do it when it comes from their own families, strengthens their resolve to do better.
Naturally, I was curious if, in Panchayat Season 2, Manju Devi steps up to take more responsibilities or not. What’s more, the trailer shows two more female characters being introduced. One is a rival—played by another talented actor, Sunita Rajwar—and the other is Manju Devi’s own daughter, Rinki, played by Saanvika, who our very own Sachiv Ji meets atop the water tank at the end of Season 1.
In conversation with Neena Gupta, we talk about what’s in store for Phulera, her character, her reel and real-life daughters, and more. Read on!
Q: Last season, your character, Manju Devi, left all the Pradhan duties to her Pradhan Pati. Is something changing in that dynamic?
Neena Gupta: The kind of character she is, she cannot change overnight. She’s simple, not too ambitious, and doesn’t mind that uska husband kar raha hai kaam. Kahin na kahin, there will be a change, but it will be slow and gradual.
Q: This season we see two more female characters. Does Panchayat this season delve deeper into the issues of women living in villages?
NG: It’s funny because Sunita [Rajwar] is a very good friend of mine and, in this season, we’re both clashing and shouting at each other. My character’s daughter’s arc is also a very gradual growth. It’s not like people think, that she and Abhishek (Jitendra Kumar) will start a romantic affair and that will be all! It’s actually very interesting. In fact, this is a hilarious season, and in the garb of humour, we’re trying to say something very important.
The two new characters—Kranti Devi played by Sunita Rajwar and Bhushan played by Durgesh Kumar—are an interesting couple too, who get into a fight with the Pradhan family and others over a ‘chappal’. This ‘chappal’ becomes a major thing! And this is what happens in villages, na? In a small village, there’s a new chappal and an old chappal, and when the two clash….”
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Q: Having played this character for two seasons now, what is an immediate concern about women in rural areas that you feel strongly about?
NG: It’s very difficult actually. We shoot Panchayat in an actual village. And when I’m not shooting, I keep observing the women who live there. In 45 degrees heat, they have to wear a long ghoonghat and do manual labour. It’s a very sad situation, and it is not going to change so soon. It will take time.
That being said, I saw that the younger generation of girls had changed a lot. They were bright women, going to school and college, using mobile phones. I have a feeling that gradually, the younger generation of women would be living a better life than their mothers and grandmothers.
Q: Modern Love Mumbai just came out, and Masaba is getting so much love. You both have such a candid social media presence. She shares her struggles with PCOD, you openly talk about your feelings and perceptions of this world. Has this candour and honesty been a mutual learning process for you both?
NG: Not exactly. Shuru shuru mein, I used to get a lot of scolding from her if I posted something stupid, didn’t know how to tag, or wrote wrong spellings on social media! Now we both do our own thing. But we do comment on each other’s posts. She writes very funny comments on my posts!
Q: We like to think city-dwellers and villagers are diametrically opposite people, but Panchayat has often shown beautiful similarities in both. What’s that one piece of advice that you’ve given your daughter that your character would probably give her daughter?
NG: Be honest to yourself and work hard!
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Q: What do you hope the audience takes away from Panchayat Season 2?
NG: Oh no, they’ll have to wait for Panchayat Season 3! Uske baad pata chalega!
Done, Neena Ji! I absolutely cannot wait for this panchayat to be in session!
Panchayat Season 2 is currently streaming on Prime Video India.
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