'I AM NOT LOOKING TO BREAK MY IMAGE'

Jitendra Kumar speaks about playing a negative character in Bhagwat Chapter 1: Raakshas, why he likes to find realism in his characters, and more

- SHREYAS PANDE

WITH ZEE5's recently released crime-drama, Bhagwat Chapter 1: Raakshas, actor Jitendra Kumar breaks bad.

Popularly known for playing lighter characters, like that of a sincere secretary of a village council in the hinterland comedy-drama, Panchayat and a friendly physics teacher in Kota Factory, Jitendra turns into a shrewd, manipulative serial killer in Bhagwat. Interestingly, his character introduces himself as a chemistry teacher, which itself feels like a cheeky reference to Jeetu Bhaiya from Kota Factory. The actor, however, doesn’t feel so, saying that Bhagwat is based on a real person, who was a teacher too. “There is no silent nod or layering here,” Jitendra smiles. “It was not designed to be a reference or anything.”