Panchayat 4 star Jitendra Kumar addresses the removed kissing scene with Sanvikaa: 'We wanted to make the scene awkwardly funny...'

Time of India

a day ago

Panchayat 4 sparks debate due to a missing kiss scene between Sachivji and Rinki. Jitendra Kumar addresses the scene's removal and the show's tonal shift. Sanvikaa felt the kiss was unsuitable for the family audience. Jitendra emphasized Sanvikaa's consent was crucial. He also discussed the series' move towards more serious themes.
Panchayat 4 may have finally delivered the long-awaited love confession between Sachivji and Rinki, but it's what didn't happen that's making headlines. A much-anticipated kiss between
Jitendra Kumar
and
Sanvikaa
was notably missing from the final cut, sparking debate among fans.
In conversation with NDTV, Jitendra Kumar broke his silence on the scene's removal, addressed the evolving tone of the series, and reflected on his journey as one of OTT's most relatable leading men.
In another recent interview, Sanvikaa shared that she turned down the on-screen kiss with Jitendra Kumar, explaining that she felt it might not sit well with Panchayat's core family audience. Given the show's rooted, small-town charm, she believed keeping the moment subtle was more in line with its tone and viewer expectations.
When asked by NDTV whether he was consulted before filming the much-discussed scene, Jitendra Kumar clarified that Sanvikaa's earlier comment had been taken out of context. He shared that when the scene was first proposed, he immediately asked the makers to check with Sanvikaa, stressing that her consent was key. The original idea was to keep the moment 'awkwardly funny' — with the two leaning in for a kiss just as the lights go off.
However, the team eventually decided to shoot it differently, staying true to the show's subtle and grounded tone.
Jitendra clarified that he has no issues with on-screen intimacy, having previously done kissing scenes in both mainstream films and web content, including with
Ayushmann Khurrana
in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. For him, it's never about the act itself but whether it serves the story. He believes that any such moment—be it romantic or otherwise—should feel organic and connect meaningfully with the audience.
Starting with Season 3, Panchayat witnessed a noticeable shift in tone. What began in 2020 as a lighthearted, feel-good escape during the pandemic gradually moved into more serious, politically charged territory. While the first two seasons were celebrated for their simplicity and charm, critics and a significant section of the internet have pointed out that the series has veered away from its original innocence, leaning instead into darker themes and heightened drama.
When asked about the mixed reactions to Panchayat Season 4, Jitendra Kumar told NDTV he was confident in the script and believed the story was headed in the right direction. Seeing the final product on screen only reaffirmed that conviction. While he initially felt nervous after reading the first few reviews, the overwhelming love from the audience reassured him that the team's efforts had resonated. For Jitendra, the viewers' response is the real verdict—and that, he believes, speaks for itself.