UP Transformation Dialogues: Panchayat cast joins talks on rural development and changing aspirations

The UP Transformation Dialogues, a flagship initiative by The Times of India, was held on Friday, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, experts and change-makers to discuss Uttar Pradesh’s development journey.

The event featured panel discussions and conversations on strengthening panchayats as engines of rural development, agriculture and irrigation, service delivery through local governance, and the changing aspirations in rural Uttar Pradesh. It also highlighted stories of transformation from villages to districts.

One of the sessions included the cast of the popular web series Panchayat actors Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Raghubeer Yadav, Sanvikaa and Sunita Rajwar. The discussion was moderated by journalist Sanket Upadhyay.

Sunita Rajwar, who played Kranti Devi Sharma in the series, described the role as one of the most lovable characters she has portrayed, while also acknowledging its challenges.

Raghubeer Yadav, who portrayed Brijbhushan Dubey, spoke about the shift in storytelling trends. Responding to a question about cinema moving from regional themes to urban narratives and now returning to villages and small towns, he said it is true that a person eventually returns to his roots and remains deeply connected to them.

Sanvikaa, who played Rinki in the series, shared her experience of working in a village-based story. She said she was initially nervous about working alongside senior actors. However, she felt connected to the rural setting as her grandparents lived in a village, and she drew inspiration from her elder sister. She added that she received strong support from the entire cast.

According to organisers, the UP Transformation Dialogues aim to provide a platform for examining the state’s development trajectory through discussions on institutional reforms, innovation-led growth, healthcare access, youth empowerment, gender equality, rural development and cultural resurgence. The initiative seeks to combine policy perspectives with grassroots insights to assess how Uttar Pradesh is positioning itself in India’s broader growth story.

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