Panchayat director Deepak Kumar Mishra was a crude oil explorer: How IIT Bombay techie got the idea to create the famous village-based series having sachiv, banrakas and pradhan ji

Deepak Kumar Mishra is now a well known name in the Film industry as he got success and fame after directing Panchayat. Deepak Kumar Mishra was an IIT Bombay student with a keen interest in theatre. During his college years, he spent his time writing, directing and acting in theatrical productions. His journey into the world of entertainment eventually led him to TVF’s first viral video, Rowdies, in which he portrayed a character inspired by Raghu Ram of Roadies.

From TVF’s Viral Video To Panchayat

Almost after 10 years, Mishra has come a long way from creating 10-minute internet videos to directing Panchayat, one of India’s most popular streaming shows.

Deepak Kumar Mishra’s Latest Project: Vvaan: Force Of The Forrest


Mishra is now associated with Vvaan: Force of the Forrest, a fantasy folklore feature film starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia.

In a conversation which is live on the Indian Express Hindi YouTube channel Deepak Kumar Mishra said he was an exploration geophysicist in a company. In simple words he used to work as an oil explorer.

Deepak Kumar Mishra’s Theatre Days At IIT Bombay

Deepak Kumar Mishra developed his interest in theatre while studying at IIT Bombay, where he wrote, directed and performed in plays. His involvement in theatre eventually brought him into contact with TVF founder Arunabh Kumar, who was working on a research project at the institute at the time.

Around 2011-12, Arunabh reached out to Mishra with an idea for a new venture. He told Mishra that he was starting something and needed an actor for his first video. Having watched Mishra perform on stage, Arunabh remembered his ability to shout convincingly and believed he would be suitable for the role.

Mishra visited Arunabh’s office, and the meeting led to TVF Rowdies, a parody of MTV’s Roadies. Mishra played a character inspired by Raghu Ram. The video quickly went viral, giving him his first experience of sudden recognition through online content.

From TVF Rowdies To Permanent Roommates

TVF’s initial content primarily consisted of spoof videos and short sketches. However, Mishra and the team soon realised they wanted to explore stories that required more time and depth than short internet videos could offer.

This ambition led to Permanent Roommates. Released in 2014, the series was among the early Indian shows created specifically for digital platforms. It marked an important milestone in TVF’s evolution from producing viral videos to developing long-form narratives for online audiences.

How Deepak Kumar Mishra Came Up With Panchayat

The idea for Panchayat was partly inspired by Mishra’s childhood memories of visiting villages near Varanasi during his summer holidays. Recalling those experiences, he said, “I am from Benaras. My parents used to take us to our maternal and paternal grandparents’ villages during the summer vacations. Compared to Benaras, these villages were much slower,”

Writer Chandan Kumar, who grew up in a village in Bihar, had experienced a similar environment. Their shared memories and conversations about rural life eventually helped shape the concept of Panchayat.

The show's central idea was to portray village life without relying on constant drama or exaggerated twists. Instead, it found its stories in everyday experiences, including local politics, personal relationships, minor disputes, government work and the unhurried pace of rural communities.

Panchayat Was Initially Planned As A Small YouTube Show

Interestingly, Panchayat was not originally envisioned as a major streaming production. Mishra revealed that the team initially considered making a short series on a limited budget and releasing it on YouTube.

“We initially thought we would make a five-episode show, shoot it in Film City and upload it on YouTube. The budget was around Rs 10 lakh. No OTT platform was ready to take it, so we thought we would execute it on a small budget,” Mishra said.

The project eventually found support from Prime Video, allowing the team to move ahead with the series. “Thankfully, Prime Video was ready to back us, and then Panchayat was made,” he said.

The first season premiered in 2020 and went on to become a major streaming success, establishing Panchayat as one of India's most popular web series.

Deepak Kumar Mishra Explores Fantasy Folklore With Vvaan

Following the success of Panchayat, Mishra ventured into a very different creative space with Vvaan: Force of the Forrest. Despite the contrast between the two projects, Mishra's approach to filmmaking remains rooted in authenticity. He does not want to confine himself to one genre and is keen to explore different kinds of stories while remaining honest to the world he creates.

His ambitions also extend beyond commercial success. Mishra hopes to make an Indian film that reaches the Oscars and wins the award for Best International Feature Film.

Working with Amitabh Bachchan Was Deepak Kumar Mishra’s Childhood Dream

Growing up in Uttar Pradesh, Mishra admired Amitabh Bachchan and dreamed of working with the legendary actor. Reflecting on that aspiration, he said, “I am from UP, so every child in UP wants to work with Amitabh Bachchan ji. For people like us, it remains a childhood dream to get an opportunity to work with him,”

Mishra has already had the opportunity to fulfil part of that dream by directing Bachchan in a government campaign.

Rejections Have Also Been Part Of Mishra’s Journey

Despite his success in the entertainment industry, Mishra's career has not been without challenges. He and his team faced several rejections, with many of their ideas failing to find producers or platforms willing to support them.