MAM
Jitendra Kumar on acting, cricket and more on Audible’s The Longest Interview
Mumbai: Jitendra Kumar, the multifaceted actor celebrated as ‘Jeetu Bhaiya’ in Kota Factory and ‘Sachiv ji’ in Panchayat, has captured Indian audiences with his nuanced performances and refreshing presence on screen. Basking in the success of two consecutive streaming hits, Jitendra discusses his journey—from the corridors of IIT to the heart of Bollywood—in a recent conversation with Vaibhav Munjal on The Longest Interview podcast on Audible. We bring you five key takeaways from his conversation on the podcast—read on to discover the untold stories that defined his path to stardom!
1 About his recent release Panchayat S3 and his experience shooting
Jitendra said, “I think Panchayat makes me nostalgic. Mai hamesha nostalgia mein rehta hu and Panchayat is that for me. Gaon mein shoot karna difficult hota tha because waha ka weather extremes mein rehta hai…Par jab Mumbai waapas aate ho tab lagta hai ki kab waapas shoot karenge gaon jaa ke?”
English translation: “It is difficult to shoot in the village because the weather is extreme but once you’re back in the city, you keep wondering when you will go back to the village for the next shoot.”
2 About his favourite character from Panchayat
He quickly shared, “Durgesh Kumar. I think Bhushan, woh rockstar hai. Maza aata hai unko dekhne mein. Shuru se hi unke character ko interesting banaya hai. I look forward to watching him on screen. Jab bhi woh aate hai aur perform karte hein tab pura crew bhi enjoy karta hai. Everybody enjoys his performance on set also.”
English translation: “Durgesh Kumar. I think the character of Bhushan is a rockstar. His character has been interesting right from the beginning and it is fun to watch him. Whenever he performs, the entire crew enjoys watching him.”
3 About how the acting bug bit him
He shared, “Jo addiction ya interest aaya filmo ka, yeh mainly Kota wali aadatein hai, 20 din padhaai ki aur puri raat cybercafe mai shutter down kar ke baith gaye. Ek website mili thi jaha 1958 se leke 2008 tak ki filmein thi, waha se dhoondta tha mai. Toh IIT mai maine har tarah ki Bollywood film dekhi hai.”
English translation: “My interest in films developed when I was in Kota. I studied for 20 days and spent the entire night in the cyber cafe with the shutter down. This is when I found a website that had films from 1958-2008. So, at IIT I watched all kinds of Bollywood films.”
4 About some cinematic masterpieces that have left an indelible mark on his life
“Sholay, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Satya, aur Gangs of Wasseypur. Yeh 4 aisi filmein hein jo har decade ko define kiya hai. Inse pehle kuch alag type ki filmein banti thi. Post-Sholay kuch alag tareeke ki banti thi. Post-Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge kuch alag tareeke ka romance shuru hua. Post-Satya ek alag realism aaya, alag tareeke ke faces dikhne lagey…phir hum kahin lost ho gaye filme banate banate…and then finally Gangs of Wasseypur came,” he highlighted how these films breathed new life into the industry and heralded a new era of storytelling.
English translation: “Sholay, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Satya, and Gangs of Wasseypur are four films that have redefined each decade of Indian cinema. The films that were made post the release of Sholay were different. The release of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge marked the beginning of the romance era. The film Satya led to the creation of more realistic content after which new talent started coming up and Gangs of Wasseypur hit it home with its content and a new genre of filmmaking.”
5 About his love for cricket
He said, “I have been a supporter of Royal Challengers Bangalore from the start. Jo mere favourite players uss time pe (Rahul) Dravid, (Anil) Kumble, Zaheer (Khan), (Daniel) Vettori, (Chris) Gayle, (Virat) Kohli, AB De Villiers, jo saare hamesha favourite rahe hai aur jinka game dekhne mein maza aata hai, wo RCB mein the. Isliye wo hi exciting team lagti thi mujhe.” On being asked how it feels to be an RCB fan, he says, “Bohot ganda lagta hai, kabhi lagta hai phone tod do. Har season mein hope deke kuch ajeeb ho jaata hai (laughs).”
English translation: “All my favourite cricketers from the time – Dravid, Kumble, Khan, Vettori, Gayle, Kohli, AB De Villiers were a part of the RCB team and I enjoyed watching their game. This is why I found that team the most exciting.” On being asked how it feels to be an RCB fan, he says, “I feel very bad when the team doesn’t qualify for the finals. It’s almost like I want to break my phone. Every season I feel hopeful for their victory but it falls apart towards the end.”
The Longest Interview on Audible is a podcast where actors, writers, filmmakers, and various celebrities come for long conversations about movies, books, food, music, and travel. Tune in to listen to candid conversations with industry veterans such as Manoj Bajpayee, Ratna Pathak Shah, Boman Irani, actors such as Mrunal Thakur, stand-up comics like Zakir Khan, Kenny Sebastian, and more.
MAM
Yes Madam introduces 0 per cent commission for pregnant service partners
Home salon platform supports over 7,500 beauty professionals with new welfare policy.
MUMBAI: When life gives you a bump, Yes Madam has decided the last thing a woman needs is a cut in her earnings. Yes Madam, one of India’s fastest-growing home salon and wellness platforms, has announced a 0 per cent commission policy for its pregnant service partners. The move aims to provide greater financial stability and flexibility to its network of over 7,500 trained beauty professionals during this important life stage.
Under the new initiative, pregnant partners will retain their full earnings with no commission deductions, allowing them to focus on their well-being while maintaining income continuity. The decision was prompted by a customer’s social media video that highlighted the experience of a pregnant service professional continuing to work. The customer suggested reducing commission and shortening travel distances for such partners.
Responding to the feedback, Yes Madam co-founder Mayank Arya acknowledged the concern and confirmed that hub restructuring to optimise travel is already underway in phases. He also announced the 0 per cent commission policy for pregnant partners and encouraged them to prioritise rest.
Yes Madam co-founder and CEO Aditya Arya, said the policy reflects the company’s commitment to open communication. “Our partners know they can reach out to us directly, and it’s this personal access that helps us build policies that truly matter,” he noted. “Introducing 0 per cent commission for pregnant professionals is a direct result of listening to their needs.”
Mayank Arya added that the platform has a responsibility to support partners at every stage. “This step is a small but important move in that direction. We actively encourage our service partners to prioritise their well-being and take adequate rest during this time.”
Yes Madam had previously introduced a 0 per cent commission model for its top-performing “Queen Partners.” Extending this benefit to pregnant professionals marks another step in strengthening partner welfare and building a more supportive ecosystem.
In an industry where beauty professionals often go the extra mile, Yes Madam is showing that genuine care should flow both ways especially when one of their own is expecting.
