Panchayat cast interview: Neena Gupta & Sunita Rajwar on S4, roles & rivalry - About Amazon India
The actresses reveal how their characters evolved from housewives to political opponents, as Prime Video's hit series 'Panchayat' returns with Season 4.
Phulera residents are back on your screens with Panchayat Season 4 where they navigate new challenges and embark on quirky adventures. For the first time, Panchayat elections are being held in Phulera and the two contenders are none other than Manju Devi (Neena Gupta) and Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar).
With rally songs, lofty pledges, and lots of fanfare, the village turns into a buzzing battleground as they compete for the post of village head. While the smiles are wide and slogans louder, behind the scenes it's all about planting whispers, questioning each other’s “values,” and throwing just enough shade to keep things spicy.
We spoke to the two electoral candidates from Panchayat S4 to learn all about their characters’ motivations for participating in the electoral campaigns and what it means for them and viewers. Edited excerpts.
Gupta: From Panchayat Season 1 to 4, the writers have beautifully portrayed a growth of my character—from someone who was reserved and uninterested in the first episode to today, when Manju Devi is confidently participating in the elections with the clear intention of winning. It has been a very interesting and gradual growth.
Rajwar: Politically, Kranti Devi has grown from the first season to the fourth. She is a completely different person—from being a housewife to attending meetings with her husband at the Vidhayak's place, using her voice, making a change in her life, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her husband. She has grown stronger and serious as her life has become drastically different from the way it was in the first season.
Rajwar: Women are no longer subdued members of the family; they now have a say in family matters and everything starts within a family. Whether it is being a good citizen or a righteous person, everything starts at home. The rural approach is changing and women, whether educated or not, have a say. Such characters, scripts, and stories have a positive impact and motivate the audience.
Rajwar: The one thing that I really want Kranti Devi to learn from Manju Devi is her assertiveness. Manju Devi is stronger than Kranti Devi when it comes to making her voice heard. Kranti Devi has only ever followed her husband’s directive. He might be right in his decisions, but she has never questioned him. Manju Devi, on the other hand, is assertive and strategic—when it comes to her position as Pradhan, she stands her ground with everyone, whether it's her husband, the Sachiv, or anyone who challenges her authority. Even when they go to meet her daughter’s prospective groom, she had a say. That assertiveness and confidence is what Kranti Devi admires in and wants to emulate from Manju Devi.
Gupta: Manju Devi is witnessing the Pradhan-pati phenomenon first-hand. Kranti Devi is also in the same boat where she does what her husband Bhushan says. That struggle to have their own voice is common in both the characters.
Rajwar: The patriarchy is not going to change in a day or few years. All women face similar struggles where society will always question them and sideline them. Both our characters face the same struggle. They assume women lack the knowledge, strength, and mindset to face political repercussions.
Gupta: Panchayat is a very important series because many women are not aware of their own strength. The series showcases a very important facet: if you want to make a mark outside your home, you don't have to abandon your household duties if you don’t want to. You can do both with cooperation from the family, like Rinki is making my page for the election. That’s what happens with Kranti Devi. Manju Devi too, has begun giving speeches and campaigning while continuing to manage her household responsibilities. It's very important for women to understand—especially in villages and small towns where they don’t have the privilege of choosing one over the other—that they can do both.
Rajwar: These two characters are sending a very strong message to viewers, a new hope that you don't have to give in to tradition and patriarchal norms. You can stand up for yourself, be strong and show the world that you have the strength and resilience to actively participate in society.
Panchayat S4 has traced the character arcs of two very different women over the course of four seasons. They are now carving a niche for themselves in an otherwise male-dominated world. In a way, the series is showcasing a regular rural housewife who is emerging from her shell to become a strong electoral candidate, winning the elections and maintaining that position. This is also a reflection of the change we’re now seeing in reality where more and more women are leading in various fields—whether it is Sunita Williams or a lady working in a small town. These characters mirror the real societal shifts occurring today, making a meaningful impact on viewers.
