Ashok Pathak

Some Lesser Known Facts About Ashok Pathak

• Ashok Pathak, an Indian actor, gained recognition for his role in the popular Hindi TV series ‘Panchayat’ (2020). In the series, there is a popular dialogue “Dekh Raha Hai Vinod,” and Ashok portrays the character of Vinod.

• Originally from Bihar, Ashok comes from a migrant family that relocated to Hisar, Haryana in search of work opportunities. In an interview, he revealed that during childhood, he often faced bullying due to his status as a Bihari migrant. ^[4]YouTube – Josh Talks

• During his school and college years, Ashok did not have a strong interest in academics. He formed friendships with students in school who were older than him, and in their company, he developed habits such as chewing tobacco, smoking, and even drinking. ^[5]YouTube – Josh Talks

• He once shared that in childhood he became a movie enthusiast and frequently skipped classes to watch films in theaters.

• When he was a child, his family experienced significant financial hardships. To support his family, he made the decision to start working when he was in class 10. Alongside one of his uncles, he sold cotton on a bicycle, even cycling long distances of 25 kilometres under the scorching summer heat. By the time he reached class 12, his father’s financial situation had improved. Following his graduation, Ashok even worked in the water treatment department at Jindal Industries Pvt. Limited in Haryana.

• While pursuing his graduation, Ashok became a part of the theatre group at his college. His talent earned him the Best Actor award on four occasions.

  

• Upon completing his graduation, Ashok came to know about the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi. Despite applying twice, he faced rejection from the institution. This news left him feeling deeply depressed.

• After completing his post-graduation, he subsequently applied to Bharatendu Natya Academy in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and was accepted. He excelled in his batch, earning the top position and receiving a scholarship. After two years of training at Bharatendu Natya Academy, he completed a one-year internship there.

• After his training at Bharatendu Natya Academy, Ashok began working in a commercial theatre in Haryana. He also directed plays at Kurukshetra University, earning Rs 40,000 for his efforts. With this money, he made the decision to move to Mumbai and pursue his acting career.

• Initially, Ashok took on cameo roles in various Hindi films such as ‘Shanghai’ (2012), ‘Shudra- The Rising’ (2012), ‘Fukrey Returns’ (2017), ‘102 Not Out’ (2018), and ’72 Hoorain’ (2020). Additionally, he has appeared in several Punjabi films like ‘Golak Bugni Bank Te Batua’ (2018), ‘Marriage Palace’ (2018), ‘Kala Shah Kala’ (2019), and ‘Kade Haan Kade Naa’ (2021).

  

• Ashok has also worked in Hindi web series such as ‘Modi: Journey of A Common Man’ (2019; Amazon Prime Video), ‘Pushpavalli’ (2017; Amazon Prime Video), ‘Rangbaaz’ (2018; ZEE5), and ‘Kathmandu Connection’ (2021; SonyLIV).

  

• Additionally, he has appeared in television commercials for various brands such as Maggi, Sony Max, and Domino’s.

  

• During his leisure time, Ashok enjoys singing, reading books, and travelling to different places.

• He is often seen smoking cigarettes and consuming alcohol at various events, as seen on his Instagram profile. ^[6]Instagram – Ashok Pathak

• In 2022, after the release of the socio-political drama show ‘Panchayat 2,’ a meme based on one of the scenes from the show went viral on the internet. In the scene, the character Bhushan aka Banrakas, played by Durgesh Kumar, addresses his companion Binod, played by Ashok Pathak, “Dekh raha hai na Binod.”
  

• In an interview, Ashok shared that when he initially entered the Bollywood industry, he was offered only small roles. When approached by a casting agent to audition for the character of Vinod in the Hindi web series ‘Panchayat,’ he initially hesitated and postponed the audition. He believed that the role of Vinod would also be a minor one and wouldn’t significantly contribute to his career. However, he eventually decided to give it a try. Despite being a small role, his portrayal in ‘Panchayat’ brought him tremendous popularity.
  

• In 2022, Ashok was invited to speak at Josh Talks, showcasing his journey and experiences.

  

• He is a spiritual person and frequently visits various religious places.