Panchayat’s Jitendra Kumar reacts to Sanvikaa refusing to kiss him onscreen: ‘Told the makers to..’

Actor Jitendra Kumar, who plays the lead role of Abhishek Tripathi in the popular web series Panchayat, has addressed the discussion around a kissing scene with co-actor Sanvikaa that was eventually not included in the final cut of Panchayat Season 4.

Following the release of the new season, actor Sanvikaa had shared in an interview that she felt unsure about performing the kissing scene when it was first narrated to her. She explained that the original version of the scene involved her character, Rinki, and Jitendra’s character in a car where a moment leads to a kiss. “In the beginning, no one said anything when the narration was done. But then director Akshat talked to me. He told that in this season we have inserted a scene where Sachiv ji and Rinki will kiss,” she had said.

Addressing the matter in a recent interview, Jitendra clarified that Sanvikaa’s comments had been misunderstood. “I think Sanvikaa’s comment was taken out of context,” he said. “When the scene was proposed, I told the makers to ask her first. Her consent was essential. We wanted to make the scene awkwardly funny — like they’re about to kiss, and the light goes off. But eventually, it was shot differently.”

When the scene was proposed, I told the makers to ask her first. Her consent was essential. We wanted to make the scene awkwardly funny — like they’re about to kiss, and the light goes off. But eventually, it was shot differently

– Jitendra Kumar
He also explained his general approach to intimate scenes in his work. According to Jitendra, such moments should only be included when they contribute meaningfully to the narrative. “I kissed Ayushmann Khurrana in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. I’ve kissed actresses on screen before. As an actor, I don’t have reservations about it. But whether it’s a kiss or any other scene, it has to serve the story. Kahani mein mazaa aana chahiye, audience se connect karna chahiye,” he said.

Jitendra’s clarification comes at a time when conversations around consent and creative choices in visual storytelling continue to be discussed widely in the industry. The scene in question did not appear in the final edit of the series. The season has otherwise been well received by viewers for maintaining the tone and character-driven storytelling that Panchayat is known for.