New Delhi: Panchayat actor Vinod Suryavanshi has recently spoken out about facing caste discrimination in his native village in Karnataka. Speaking with Siddharth Kannan on his podcast, he shared that his family is not allowed to enter temples or people’s homes. The actor managed to bag big projects after having a humble start. From security guard to junior artist, and now working in a hit show, Panchayat, the actor’s journey is not an ordinary one.
Vinod Suryavanshi on facing casteism
Speaking to Siddharth Kannan, the Panchayat actor Vinod Suryavanshi said that casteism is still prevalent in his village in Karnataka. He shared that there are two areas in that village – one for the upper castes and one for the lower castes. In fact. The Dalits live separately from the village.
He further added, “Once, when I went to the village with my father, I was 12 years old and ate at a hotel, we had to wash our own plates and also pay for the food. There is still a temple where we are not allowed to go in my village.”
When Vinod was rejected for his look
Talking about being rejected for his looks, he shared, “When I gave auditions for TV, they often wanted a ‘rich look’. Even for a beggar’s role, they wanted someone with a rich look. I was told I didn’t fit the requirement. I was selected for a role as a house help. The casting team had finalised me, and I reached on time for the shoot. But when the creative director came, she asked who I was. When they told her, she said, ‘No, this won’t work – we need someone with a fair look. He is dark-complexioned, pack him up’.”
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Vinod on his family and childhood trauma
Vinod opened up about his childhood trauma and shared that he never liked festivals, as there was no reason to celebrate. He shared, “My mother worked as a domestic help, and my father was a mason. He didn’t get work every day, and when he didn’t, he would come home drunk. My childhood environment wasn’t good – he would abuse and even hit my mother. I grew up watching all this, and it felt terrible. I didn’t hate him, but I didn’t like his behaviour.”
Meanwhile, Vinod has also worked in Jolly LLB 3, Thamma, Satyameva Jayate, and more, apart from Panchayat.