‘Panchayat’ Director Deepak Kumar Mishra Shares the Secret Behind the Show’s Success

slice-of-rural-life storytelling—and now, director Deepak Kumar Mishra is revealing why the show continues to strike a deep chord with viewers.

As Panchayat gears up for its much-anticipated Season 4, Mishra says the secret sauce is simple: authenticity.

“From the beginning, we focused on building a world that feels real and lived-in,” Mishra explained. “With each season, we’ve just made that world richer and deeper. Season one was intimate, rooted in emotions and small things. By season two, the Phulera election expanded the story, and we had to choose between bringing in new faces or evolving the ones we had. Bhushan—Banrakas—emerged naturally from the plot, and I’ve grown quite fond of him.”

Season after season, Panchayat has evolved not just in story but in emotional complexity. Mishra admits the writing challenges have grown as well, especially with delicate arcs like character deaths. But no matter how dramatic things get, staying true to the show’s tone has been the team’s guiding principle.

“The characters now drive the narrative,” he added. “Their growth shapes the story. And let me say this—Bhushan vs Pradhanji is far from over.”

For series writer Chandan Kumar, each season of Panchayat peels back new layers of storytelling.

“What looks simple on the surface often carries deep emotional and political currents underneath,” he said. “With every layer, Phulera becomes more than a backdrop—it turns into a world of its own, filled with laughter, grief, and quiet change.”

Produced by The Viral Fever and created by Deepak Kumar Mishra and Chandan Kumar, Panchayat Season 4 is written by Chandan Kumar and directed by Mishra alongside Akshat Vijaywargiya.

The returning ensemble cast includes Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Sanvikaa, Durgesh Kumar, Sunita Rajwar, and Pankaj Jha.

The new season is set to stream soon on Prime Video—and the excitement is palpable.