Panchayat’s Vidhayak Ji, Pankaj Jha, Does a U-Turn: Claims Pankaj Tripathi and Anurag Kashyap Are His Buddies

Ah, Bollywood! The land of drama queens and kings, where the glitz and glamour come with a side of scandal and a sprinkle of intrigue. 🌟

So, let’s dive into the latest episode of "Bollywood Shenanigans," brought to you by yours truly, Bollywood Newshound Nisha. And boy, do I have some juicy tidbits for you today! 🍿

The Panchayat Drama

Pankaj Jha, the actor who’s made waves with his portrayal of Vidhayak Ji in the web series Panchayat, has found himself in hot water recently. Not for his acting, mind you, but for a few comments he made during an interview that have set tongues wagging.

Apparently, Pankaj Jha threw some shade in an interview, suggesting that certain actors in the industry like to steal work from others and then glamorize their "struggles." While he didn’t name names, the media (always hungry for drama, as you know) connected the dots to Pankaj Tripathi and Anurag Kashyap. 🍿

Clearing the Air

In a recent statement, Jha decided to clear the air, probably realizing that Bollywood’s grapevine was working overtime. He said, "I didn’t name Tripathi in my interview. Feel free to listen to the tapes – I didn’t mention anyone. Why would I say such things? The media loves a good story and often twists things to fit their narratives."

He went on to emphasize that both Tripathi and Kashyap are his friends. "Pankaj Tripathi is a dear friend of mine. We’ve worked together on several films. He’s my junior in the industry, having come after me. Similarly, Anurag Kashyap is like a brother to me; we’ve collaborated on movies like Gulaal and Black Friday. Why would I badmouth them?"

The Interview That Started It All

In a prior interview with Digital Commentary, Jha was asked if he felt there was any politics involved in losing out on a role in Gangs of Wasseypur. His response was classic Bollywood: "If people backstab me, it doesn’t bother me. Those who engage in politics behind my back are usually cowards. But if their politics harms me, then they’ve won, haven’t they?"

Ah, the sweet smell of Bollywood politics!

A Tale of Two Pankajs

Jha shared an anecdote about how he was initially contacted for a role in Gangs of Wasseypur. "I was in Patna shooting for another project when I got a message from casting director Mukesh Chhabra. He wanted to cast me in Gangs of Wasseypur. But by the time I returned, the role had gone to someone else." That someone else was Pankaj Tripathi, whose fate took a significant turn with the role. 🎭

The Slipper Story

To add more spice, Jha mentioned that some actors would steal someone’s slippers and then claim, "He’s such a great actor that I had to take his slippers." This comment stirred up memories of a story Tripathi once shared about keeping Manoj Bajpayee’s forgotten slippers during his struggling days. The media, of course, jumped to the conclusion that Jha was targeting Tripathi. 🥿

Taking Aim at Directors

Jha didn’t stop at actors; he threw some shade at directors too. "If films like Satya and Gulaal made actors’ careers, then actors have also made directors’ careers. But some people here are spineless. They can’t even keep their words. Some directors are in such a bad state that they juggle 36 different projects at once."

Nisha’s Nutshell

So, what’s the moral of this Bollywood drama? Simple: In Bollywood, if you don’t have a thick skin, better invest in a good pair of earplugs and a strong filter for your news feed. After all, in the land of filmi gossip, there are no permanent friends or enemies, just permanent drama! 🎬

Tags: Bollywood, Pankaj Jha, Pankaj Tripathi, Anurag Kashyap, Bollywood Gossip, Film Industry Drama