‘Kaayala Re Binod’, ‘Panchayat 3’ fame Ashok Pathak said- I mumble after mixing Bhojpuri-Hindi

The good man inside was alive even in childhood
It was the time of my childhood when I used to smoke bidi and eat paan masala. People in the neighbourhood used to say that son, play with everyone but not with him/her. Due to these antics, my mother cried a lot, I was beaten up two-four times. When I did not mend my ways, I was caught again. Seeing her tears and crying again and again hurt me. Of course, father did not cry but the way he/she beat me, stopped me from talking, shook me from within. However, even while doing these mischiefs, I had a sense of responsibility in my mind. I knew that father was running the house with great difficulty. Of course I became spoiled, but due to seeing all this, I did not become spoiled to such an extent that I keep hurting my family and choose the wrong path. A good person inside me was alive even in childhood.

‘I don’t want alms from the world’

When I used to sell cotton in my childhood, my toe got cut by getting stuck in the chain. That scar connects me to the time when I used to earn 150 rupees by riding a bicycle all day. To be honest, I can never leave my land. I feel that the struggle of that time was the process of me becoming a man. Life was preparing me to have a good personality and to be able to carry responsibilities. That day’s earnings were spent on the injury. I earned 125 rupees and 100 rupees were spent on medicines and stitches. I cried a lot. I gave money to the doctor, asked him/her to stop the bleeding. I did not show my helplessness. This means that I did not want alms from the world. I have earned by my hard work, I will give to the one who deserves it. I have to work hard, I do not want anyone’s mercy.

When she gets upset, a mix of Hindi and Bhojpuri comes out

When I get angry, I use abusive language. The language depends on whether the fight is with a Haryanvi, a Bihari or a person from UP. I then speak in the same style. When I am surrounded by trouble or conflict, a mix of Bhojpuri and Hindi starts coming out of my mouth. Actually, some languages ​​are acquired from the world and society, while another language is acquired from the mother’s womb. When I am upset, I mumble in a mix of Bhojpuri and Hindi. Like, ‘Ashok, you should not do this,’ then suddenly I say, ‘what did you do Ashok.’

I have been made an emotional fool

When I used to sell cotton in my childhood, I used to lie that I am studying sir. I used to sell a bundle of 40 rupees for 60, 65, 70 rupees. I used to say that I bought it for 45 and would say that it was 48 to 50 rupees. This was a technique but it did not harm anyone because they earned more margin than me. If you do not know this, you cannot do business or salesmanship. This smartness would be useful even today. However, I show as much smartness as is necessary. As for me, I am not doing bad to anyone, so I will not let bad happen to me either. This is what I try to do. If someone fools me emotionally, it is a different matter. Actually, I have been fooled emotionally a lot. I am fearless professionally, but when it comes to personal matters, I am very personal. I try not to mix the two.

Many dimensions of Binod were seen

Earlier I used to appear on screen but I did not have that kind of recognition. Now everyone wants to see me. This moment is really beautiful for me. An artist works for his/her own recognition. It feels good that the honesty I showed was successful. Yes, this time the responsibility of establishing almost every episode was on my and Durgesh Kumar (Bhushan) ji’s shoulders. This time Binod got expanded. It was shown how ambitions are taking shape inside Binod. This opened up more dimensions of the character. It came out that Binod has many dimensions, look at them too.

I cried during the interview in Cannes

I am very emotional. I cry even after watching a movie. To be honest, I cried after watching ‘Laapata Ladies’. I am very emotional like that. I saw it before going to Cannes. Then when Brut interviewed me there and asked how my parents must be feeling that you are in Cannes, my eyes welled up. I cried for a few moments. Then the camera cut, I wiped my tears and gave the interview. I cannot keep anything good or bad inside. In ‘Panchayat-3’ also, I cried in the episode of Jagmohan’s mother.

he/she even got his/her ears pierced for the role

I did a show on OTT two years ago on CA topper Tribhuvan Mishra. It hasn’t come out yet. I had to wear an earring in it. There was a lot of action in the show. If I wore fake earrings, there was a fear of them falling off, so I was told to get my ears pierced. I got them pierced on a whim. I can take such small risks to bring out the real acting. I was also scared, but when I got my ears pierced, it happened by chance and it was done. The process before that was scary, when they were preparing something like a gun.

People thought I was a real villager

This time people have enjoyed every dialogue of mine in Panchayat-3. The special thing is that everyone thought that I am a villager and that I am a real person. I consider this to be my good fortune. Be it the diver of ‘Fukrey Returns’, the Haryanvi driver of ‘Bittu Boss’ or the tribal of ‘Death in the Ganges’. People considered almost every work of mine to be a real character. For this I thank God that he/she always casts me in the character with truthfulness, due to which my characters seem real to everyone. I consider this to be a gift from God.

I did not know that people would again hold ‘Panchayat’ in their hearts

I had no idea that I would get so much space in the third season. It was later known that no brother, this time the character has been expanded. I also look at ‘Panchayat’ in a complete perspective. This time it seemed that I had no such work. I am here and just supporting Bhushanji. I had just done my work honestly and left. I did not know that people will again take it to their hearts and Binod will come into the mainstream. However, this time Bhushan Bhai (Banrakas)’s work was very tremendous. However, I had done some improvisation regarding my appearance. It was already written but in some places I had added myself, ‘Sochkar nahi aaye the bhaiya…’ or ‘Shakpaka to gaye the’. It was written so beautifully that if there is a little improvisation by the right actor, it will be the icing on the cake and that is what happened.

Do you get scolded by Suryamohan ji?

Now I get a lot of love from him/her instead of scolding. When I told him/her about Cannes, he/she was very happy. Whenever something new happens in life, I definitely call Sir. he/she gets happy with the same warmth and says, ‘Wow Ashok’. Hearing these words, it feels like I have got all the awards of the world.

Which was your first film?

My first film was Lucknow’s Sanjeev Jaiswal’s ‘Shudra: The Rising’. I was initially disappointed that I was made to stand in the crowd but I don’t know what kind of faith Sanjeev ji had in me. Three days before the shooting was over, he/she felt that this boy should be used properly. The opportunity he/she gave me at the end of the film was the biggest. After doing the last scene, everyone clapped for me. At that time, it felt as if the pain of a month that I didn’t know whether I would be seen in the crowd or not, was taken away by him/her. he/she is my first director, he/she is a great one and I respect him/her a lot.

How was money management done at BNA?

I used to get a scholarship of Rs 2000 from the college. This was in 2007-2009. Out of that, Rs 600 was deducted for tuition fees. Hostel fees, food and drinks were all covered in the Rs 1400. I had very little money left but I was the favourite of my seniors. They used to arrange for tea, bidi and cigarettes. I was always available to serve everyone.

With whom did you perform plays here?

In Lucknow, I did two plays under the direction of Suryamohan Sir, the first was Malivika Agnimitram, the second was Jaat Hi Poocho Sadhu Ki. I did two plays with Raj Sir, Kinglier, Magbeth. Then I did Mahabhoj with Robin Da, Sunil Sinha ji. Lucknow theatre still resides in my heart. I am fortunate that in our time Baba was the director. I remember in the first year that we did not get any holidays. Some teacher or the other would always come and teach us. We never had any free time.

What do you remember about Gomti Nagar?

In Patrakarpuram, we used to get really good boti-kebabs. There was a mullah of ours, don’t even ask how good parathas he/she made. Our seniors were Manoj Mishra, Sunil Upadhyay, so they used to take it and feed us. It was very cheap at that time. In front of our BNA, we used to get puri-chhola, Bablu baati-chokhawala, Raju chaiwala, milk was available in Patrakarpuram from the kadhai wala, I remember everything.