Raghubir Yadav explains why a three-hour movie for Panchayat may not work for Phulera’s layered characters amid Season 5 buzz (Image Credits Instagram and IMDb)

The success of ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’ has renewed interest in the possibility of popular streaming shows making the transition to the big screen. One series that could seemingly lend itself to a theatrical adaptation is ‘Panchayat’, which has built a dedicated following over four seasons with its understated humour and slice-of-life portrayal of rural India. However, actor Raghubir Yadav, who plays the much-loved Brij Bhushan Dubey, believes the decision should ultimately depend on the story and its writers.

Raghubir Yadav on whether ‘Panchayat’ could become a movie

Speaking to Variety India about the possibility of ‘Panchayat’ making the leap to theatres, Raghubir Yadav said he would leave the decision to the creators. The actor admitted that he had not even considered whether the series should be turned into a film.“I don’t know; it depends on the writer. If it is made, I won’t interfere. I am not even able to think whether it should be made or not. It is their thought. If it is made, I will do it.”Yadav’s comments come as the audience awaits the fifth season of ‘Panchayat’. The series, created by The Viral Fever (TVF), follows Abhishek Tripathi, a city-bred graduate who takes up the position of secretary at a gram panchayat in the fictional village of Phulera. Over its four seasons, the show has expanded its ensemble of characters and storylines while retaining its grounded approach.While a theatrical ‘Panchayat’ could potentially bring the residents of Phulera to a much larger audience, Yadav believes the format could pose a challenge for the show’s storytelling. The actor pointed out that the writers may already have several more seasons mapped out and questioned whether condensing the world of Panchayat into a single film would make sense.“It’s possible that the writer has many more seasons in his mind. Why would he make a movie and ruin the seasons?” he said.Yadav also explained that the breadth of the characters and their individual stories makes it difficult to compress the world of Panchayat into a conventional two- or three-hour film.

Raghubir Yadav says three hours is not enough to tell Phulera’s stories

Having spent a significant part of his life portraying characters rooted in ordinary Indian settings, Yadav drew upon his own experience of rural India while discussing the challenges of adapting Panchayat into a film.“I have lived in the villages and I know that it is very difficult to summarize it in three-four hours. If you look at anyone’s life in the show – Banrakas, Manju Devi, Sachivji – then three hours is nothing,” he said.Interestingly, ‘Panchayat does not rely solely on its central protagonist. Characters such as Manju Devi, Banrakas, Pradhan-pati Brij Bhushan and Sachivji have developed their own arcs and relationships across the seasons.

‘Panchayat’ Season 5

Picking up directly from the game-changing events of Season 4, where Kranti Devi dethroned Manju Devi in the village elections, ‘Panchayat’ Season 5 sees Sachiv Ji, played by Jitendra Kumar navigating a significantly tenser administrative landscape under Phulera’s vengeful new leadership. Even as Abhishek clears his CAT exam and focuses on his MBA ambitions alongside his budding romance with Rinki, unresolved village politics and lingering mysteries pull him back into local conflicts. The core ensemble features Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Chandan Roy, Faisal Malik, Sanvikaa, Durgesh Kumar, and Sunita Rajwar. Officially confirmed by Amazon Prime Video as part of its slate, Season 5 is currently targeting a release window between October and November 2026.