Actor Saanvika, best known for her role as Rinki in the popular web series Panchayat, recently spoke about her experience with a scene that made her uncomfortable during filming. In a candid interview with Just Too Filmy, she revealed that there was a kissing scene initially planned between her character and Sachiv Ji, played by Jitendra Kumar, in the latest season. However, she was not comfortable doing it and expressed her concerns to the makers.
Saanvika recalled that during the narration of the new season, nothing was mentioned about the kissing scene. Later, director Deepak Kumar Mishra and the team approached her separately and explained that they were planning to include a kiss between Rinki and Sachiv Ji. She was surprised to hear about it, especially since the original version of the scene was different.
“In the earlier version, both characters were in the car, Rinki falls, and then they kiss,” she shared. “When they told me about the change, I asked for two days to think about whether I could do it or not.” Saanvika explained that she kept in mind the kind of audience Panchayat has — mostly families — and this made her feel more hesitant.
After giving it some thought, she decided to say no to the kissing scene. The makers respected her decision and removed the scene from the script. However, they replaced it with another scene, famously known as the “tanki scene.” The new scene was meant to show intimacy in a subtle and aesthetic manner. But even then, Saanvika admitted she still felt awkward during the shoot.
Talking about her co-star Jitendra Kumar, she praised him for being understanding and supportive. “Jeetu is a very nice person. He made sure I felt comfortable while shooting,” she said. Though she hasn’t discussed this matter openly with her family yet, she believes they will understand her choices.
Panchayat, set in the fictional village of Phulera, follows the life of Abhishek Tripathi, an engineering graduate who becomes the secretary of a rural panchayat office. The show has received immense love from audiences for its simple storytelling and relatable characters. Apart from Saanvika and Jitendra, it features a talented cast including Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, and more.
While the first three seasons were highly appreciated, the fourth season got mixed reviews. Some fans enjoyed the emotional depth, while others felt that the show had moved away from its original humor and charm. The season 4 finale, in particular, faced criticism and is considered the weakest ending so far by many fans.
Despite that, Panchayat continues to be one of India’s most loved shows and is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
