A blink-and-miss appearance in a popular show, and suddenly the man behind it is telling a story that hits far deeper than screen time. Actor Vinod Suryavanshi, who briefly appeared in ‘Panchayat’, has opened up about a life filled with harsh realities of caste discrimination, poverty, family struggles, and the long road to acting.
Caste discrimination still haunts his village
Vinod revealed that caste-based segregation is still a reality in his native village in Karnataka. According to him, the village is physically divided; one area for upper castes and another for lower castes, with Dalits living separately.
Even today, he says, his family is not allowed to enter certain temples or people’s homes.
He recalled a painful childhood memory. When he was about 12 years old, he visited the village with his father and ate at a hotel. After finishing the meal, they were asked to wash their own plates despite paying for the food. The experience left a lasting mark on him.
He also shared that there is still a temple in the village where people from his community are not allowed to enter.
Poverty and painful festivals at home
Vinod also spoke about the emotional struggles he witnessed growing up. He remembered seeing his parents cry often, especially during festivals. Instead of excitement, occasions like Diwali brought more sadness. He said festivals made them cry because they could never celebrate like others.
Their condition, he explained, was extremely poor. Celebrations only happened if someone gave them something. Otherwise, festivals passed quietly.
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His mother worked as a domestic help, while his father was a mason who did not get work regularly. On days without work, his father often returned home drunk.
Vinod revealed that his father would verbally abuse and sometimes hit his mother. Watching this as a child was painful. He admitted he did not hate his father, but he did not like his behaviour.
From liftman to security guard: struggling years
Before stepping into acting, Vinod took up several small jobs to survive. His first job was as a liftman, where he earned Rs 1,600 per month. Later, he worked as an office boy at a construction office. After that, he became a security guard.
He described the job as physically exhausting. The duty required him to stand for 12 hours. During rains, water would enter his shoes, causing blisters on his feet. He also had to face verbal abuse from people.
Slowly carving a space in the industry
Despite the struggles, Vinod eventually found his way into the entertainment industry. He has appeared in several projects, including ‘Janaawar’, ‘Thamma’, ‘Satyameva Jayate’, and ‘Jolly LLB 3’.