Actor Bulloo Kumar, who became a household name with his portrayal of Madhav in the popular web series Panchayat, has had a remarkable journey in the entertainment industry. From performing in village theatre and struggling to make ends meet to earning recognition through OTT projects, his story is one of persistence and passion.
With Panchayat giving him a major breakthrough, Bulloo Kumar is now exploring a different side of his acting with his role as Lalua in Ohh My Dog (2026). In this exclusive conversation, he talks about Madhav, his journey with Panchayat, the challenges he faced before success, and his experience working on Ohh My Dog.
Mozammil Mumtaz: Let’s begin with Panchayat. When did you first learn that you had been selected to play Madhav?
Bulloo Kumar: It was a very special moment for me. I had already spent many years struggling and working in theatre and different projects. Panchayat was not just another project for me. I felt that this could finally give my work the recognition I had been waiting for.
I auditioned for the series and was eventually selected. Becoming Madhav was a major turning point in my career.
Mozammil Mumtaz: Madhav is not the central character, yet audiences have connected strongly with him. Why do you think people love Madhav so much?
Bulloo Kumar: I think Madhav is a very relatable and grounded character. He is not larger than life. He is simple, innocent and connected to the rural environment.
That is also one of the biggest strengths of Panchayat. The series gives importance to its supporting characters and makes them feel like real people. Every character has an identity of its own.
Mozammil Mumtaz: Do you see any connection between Madhav and your own life?
Bulloo Kumar: Yes, definitely. I come from a village in Nawada district of Bihar. I grew up surrounded by nature, fields, rivers and village life. So the atmosphere shown in Panchayat is not completely unfamiliar to me.
I have personally experienced village life, and that helped me understand the emotions and behaviour of such characters.
Mozammil Mumtaz: You spent almost a decade doing theatre in Patna. How much did theatre help you in playing Madhav?
Bulloo Kumar: Theatre played a very important role in shaping me as an actor. I spent around ten years doing theatre in Patna. Theatre teaches you discipline, observation and how to understand a character from within.
Before entering the mainstream screen space, theatre was my biggest acting school.
Mozammil Mumtaz: Your journey was not easy. There was a time when you struggled even to pay your children’s school fees. When you look back at that period today, what do you feel?
Bulloo Kumar: It was an extremely difficult phase. Not being able to pay my children’s school fees was very painful for me. There were many moments when I wondered how things would work out.
During the lockdown, I even returned to my village and started farming. But I never completely gave up on acting. Those difficult years taught me patience and made me stronger.
Mozammil Mumtaz: Your father wanted you to get a government job, while you chose acting. Did you ever feel that you had made the wrong decision?
Bulloo Kumar: At that time, I did not understand my father’s concerns. He wanted me to first take care of the family and then pursue whatever I wanted.
Today, being a father myself, I understand his perspective much better. But acting had become my passion. Eventually, I chose the path that I truly believed in.
Mozammil Mumtaz: Let’s talk about Ohh My Dog (2026). You are playing Lalua in the film. What attracted you to this character?
Bulloo Kumar: Ohh My Dog is a different experience for me. I am playing Lalua, and what excited me was the opportunity to explore another kind of character.
As an actor, I don’t want to be known only for Madhav. I want audiences to see me in different roles and understand that I can play different kinds of characters.
Mozammil Mumtaz: How different is Lalua from Madhav?
Bulloo Kumar: The two characters are quite different, and that is exactly what attracted me to Lalua.
Madhav has given me a very special identity, but as an actor, I want to keep experimenting. If audiences watch Lalua and feel that they are seeing a completely different side of me, that would be the biggest compliment.
Mozammil Mumtaz: What was the experience of working on Ohh My Dog like for you?
Bulloo Kumar: It was a new and interesting experience. The film explores the emotional relationship between humans and a dog, and the story has different characters and situations connected to that journey.
For me, it was another opportunity to learn and work with talented people.
Mozammil Mumtaz: After Panchayat, did opportunities change for you?
Bulloo Kumar: Absolutely. Panchayat changed my career significantly.
Before Panchayat, very few people knew me or my work. The series gave me the recognition I had been working towards since 2011. Today, I receive work because people know me and have seen my performances.
I am very grateful for that.
Mozammil Mumtaz: Do you ever worry that audiences will always associate you with Madhav?
Bulloo Kumar: No, I don’t see it as a worry. Madhav is a very important character in my career, and I will always be grateful for the love people have given him.
But my responsibility as an actor is to keep moving forward. I want people to remember me for many different characters, not just one.
Mozammil Mumtaz: If you had to choose between Madhav from Panchayat and Lalua from Ohh My Dog, which character would you choose?
Bulloo Kumar: That would be very difficult. Madhav gave me recognition, while Lalua gave me the opportunity to explore a different side of myself.
Both characters are special to me for different reasons. I wouldn’t want to choose one over the other.
Mozammil Mumtaz: When you look back—from village theatre and your struggles in Patna to becoming Madhav in Panchayat—what is the biggest lesson life has taught you?
Bulloo Kumar: The biggest lesson is that you should never give up because of difficult circumstances.
My journey has had many ups and downs. I worked in theatre, came to Mumbai, got work, then went through periods when there was almost no work. There was also a time when my financial situation became extremely difficult.
But I never stopped believing in acting. If you truly love your work, you have to keep going even when the journey becomes difficult.
Mozammil Mumtaz: Finally, what would you like to say to the audience who have supported you as Madhav and are now going to see you in Ohh My Dog?
Bulloo Kumar: I would like to thank the audience from the bottom of my heart.
The love people have given to Madhav and Panchayat means a lot to me. I hope they give the same love to Ohh My Dog and Lalua.
My only aim is to keep working, keep learning and keep entertaining people with different characters.
