Jitendra Kumar has become a household name thanks to his lovable role as ‘Sachiv Ji’ in the much-adored series ‘Panchayat’. The recently released fourth season of ‘Panchayat’ once again won over fans with its charming portrayal of rural life and endearing characters. But long before Jitendra became everyone’s favourite village secretary, he made his Bollywood debut alongside Ayushmann Khurrana in the film ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’.Released in 2020, ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’ broke new ground by bringing a same-sex love story to mainstream Hindi cinema. Directed by Hitesh Kewalya, the film revolves around the romance between two men, played by Ayushmann and Jitendra, as they navigate the challenges of coming out to a conservative family.The kiss that got everyone talkingOne of the biggest talking points from ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’ was the kissing scene between Ayushmann and Jitendra. This on-screen kiss was seen as bold and significant, many praised the actors for handling it with such ease and honesty.Opening up about shooting the scene, Jitendra revealed in an interview with Mumbai Mirror, “I am a reserved person, but Ayushmann made me comfortable. He is easy to work with and is quite friendly.” This simple admission showed how Ayushmann’s professionalism helped break the ice and made filming an intimate moment less awkward.Why Jitendra said ‘yes’ immediatelyJitendra also shared that it didn’t take him long to decide that he wanted to be part of this groundbreaking film. In the same interview, he said, “I met Hitesh two months after the offer came along. When I heard the narration, I instantly knew I wanted to be part of the film. I discovered later that even Ayushmann had been lobbying to get me on board.”Jitendra’s rise in the entertainment world has been an inspiring one. Many first noticed him in viral sketches on YouTube, where he often played relatable young men grappling with studies, jobs or relationships. His breakthrough came with the web series ‘Kota Factory’, where he played the beloved Jeetu Bhaiya, a mentor figure to struggling IIT aspirants.
