Panchayat's Chandan Roy recalls how a boy asking for selfie in his village made him realise the show was a hit

Summary: A chance encounter in Mahnar during the Covid period convinced Chandan Roy that Panchayat had reached audiences far beyond India’s major cities.

When Panchayat was released, Chandan Roy was staying in his village during the Covid period. He recalled that he was travelling with his uncle, carrying a sack of flour while sitting behind him on a motorcycle, when an unexpected fan encounter changed how he viewed the show’s reach.

A young man approached them and said he had watched Panchayat and appreciated Roy’s work. The fan then asked for a selfie. Roy said the moment surprised him because he had assumed the series would mainly be watched in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi.

Audience Reach Beyond Major Cities

The encounter took place in Mahnar, a small town, and made Roy realise that the show had travelled well beyond the country’s largest urban centres. His uncle was also astonished by the recognition, according to Roy’s recollection.

The experience did not end with that one interaction. Roy said another person stopped him during the same motorcycle ride, reinforcing his impression that Panchayat had connected with viewers in places he had not expected.

Why the Moment Mattered

For Roy, the village encounter offered a direct sign of the series’ popularity. Rather than learning about its reception through industry discussions or city audiences, he saw its impact through people recognising him during an ordinary trip.

The memory highlights how personal audience reactions can reveal the reach of a show. In Roy’s case, a simple request for a selfie became the moment he understood that Panchayat had become significant to viewers far beyond metropolitan India.