'Dekh Rahe Ho Binod' Star, Ashok Pathak Of 'Panchayat', Sold Cotton As A Kid, Played Driver In Films

The popular Amazon Prime web series, Panchayat, has won hearts throughout the country for its portrayal of the grassroot levels of India, with comedic twists. The show is carried not just by one main lead, but through every character, whether in big or small roles. One such character is that of 'Binod' played by Ashok Pathak. The actor first appeared in Panchayat Season 2 and became a fan favourite, an irreplaceable part of the show. After his 'Dekh raha hai Binod' meme went viral, Ashok also shot to fame. However, the actor's real life has been marked by numerous struggles. 

Ashok Pathak was born into poverty in a village in Bihar 

Speaking to Aajtak, Ashok Pathak shared his life story and recounted his struggles with the public. He was born on January 3, 1985, in a village called Darveshpur, in Siwan, Bihar. Ashok's father worked as a fireman in coal furnaces, while his uncle sold cotton. As a kid, he saw both of them work hard in these jobs, earning only a modest amount to make ends meet in their household. Despite their financial conditions, Ashok had big ambitions. He wanted to become an actor. In the interview, Ashok said that he was mocked by his friends for his ambitions of becoming an actor. They would taunt him and say, “You don’t have the looks to be a hero”. But their words did not hinder Ashok's passion at all. 

Ashok Pathak had to sell cotton and work in factories 

To support his family, Ashok Pathak began taking on odd jobs to earn a little money. The Panchayat actor revealed that he would cycle for 20km daily and sell cotton. Ashok was doing this when he was a mere teenager, studying in the 9th standard. He also worked in factories in the hopes of contributing to the family financially. However, Ashok stated that he was also quite mischievous and had started chewing tobacco and smoking at a young age. Talking about these habits, he said:

“I was that kid parents warned their children to stay away from. I started smoking and chewing tobacco, much to my family’s despair."

Ashok Pathak applied to NSD but was rejected 

For better work, Ashok's family moved from Bihar to Hisar, Haryana. He completed his 10th and 12th there and also went on to college. Ashok stated that his family's financial condition had improved by the time he went to college. In college, Ashok tried out acting in theatre and won the Best Actor award. After college, Ashok applied to the prestigious National School of Drama, whose alumni include his present co-stars from Panchayat, Raghubir Yadav (plays 'Pradhanji'), Neena Gupta (plays 'Manju Devi'), and Durgesh Kumar (plays 'Banrakas'). 

However, unfortunately, Ashok Pathak was unable to attend NSD. After the rejection, the actor admitted that he was completely heartbroken. Ashok stated that he was crying for days and wanted to give up. But his father supported him and told him to go to Mumbai and chase his dreams. But despite the support, Ashok joined a company and started working there. The actor recalled the rejection and said:

"I was heartbroken. I cried for days and was close to giving up. But my father supported me. He encouraged me to go to Mumbai."

Ashok Pathak finally went to Mumbai and bagged his first acting job 

While working at a company, Ashok made it into the Bharatendu Natya Academy in 2007. After this, he earned some money from directing a video and went to Mumbai with Rs. 40,000 in his pocket. Then he got a job with Sony Max and earned Rs. 2500. Then Ashok earned Rs. 70,000 from a Domino's Pizza ad, an amount he thought was impossible to earn. In the interview, the actor revealed that he had thought that the call for the ad was a prank. 

Ashok Pathak struggled in the film industry and was typecast in films 

Ashok Pathak secured a role in the 2012 film, Bittoo Boss, but the film ultimately flopped at the box office. As a result, Ashok had to struggle again for roles. A look at his filmography reveals that he was constantly typecast in minor and nameless roles of driver, security guard and rickshaw wala. The actor then revealed that by 2014, such opportunities were also hard to come by in Bollywood, so he tried his luck in the Punjabi film industry. Before joining the Panchayat, Ashok had also worked in web series such as Sacred Games and Aarya. 

Ashok Pathak was not interested in the role of 'Binod' 

In the interview, Ashok Pathak revealed that after playing many minor roles that were barely on screen, he did not want to appear in a similar role, 'Binod', in Panchayat season 2. The actor revealed that after playing roles of drivers, street vendors, and others, he was disappointed when he received the call from the casting team. Ashok thought that the role was similar, so he kept on postponing the auditions. However, the actor stated that since the casting agents were his friends, he couldn't deny them. Ashok talked about the auditions and said:

"When I got a call from the casting, I was very disappointed. In fact, for the last several years, I have been playing characters like a street vendor, a driver or a security guard. In such a situation, it seemed that this character Vinod is also like that. I kept postponing- the audition for two-three days. The casting guys are my friends, so I couldn't even deny them."

Ashok Pathak got immense love from the public for his portrayal of 'Binod' 

As the makers liked his audition, Ashok Pathak was chosen for the role of 'Binod' in Panchayat season 2. However, with the dynamics between 'Banrakas' and 'Binod' loved by the viewers, and the comic innocence of his character getting so much love, Ashok became an indispensable part of Panchayat. Ashok Pathak, who once sold cotton, has now become successful enough to buy a one-bedroom apartment in Mumbai. 

What are your thoughts on Ashok Pathak's journey as an actor? 

Also Read: Meet Durgesh Kumar A.k.a 'Banrakas Of Panchayat', Theatre Artist, Film With Alia, Struggles For Work

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)