Entertainment / Wed, 20 May 2026 News18

This IITian Quit Engineering for Acting, Was Rejected By Top Film School, Is Now One Of OTT’s Biggest Stars

2 / 9 Encouraged by his father to pursue a secure career, he moved to Kota to prepare for the IIT entrance exams. Through dedication and hard work, Jitendra successfully cleared JEE and secured admission to Civil Engineering at IIT Kharagpur. ADVERTISEMENT3 / 9 This marked the beginning of what looked like a stable and prestigious engineering career. He also once revealed applying to the National School of Drama (NSD) to formally pursue acting, but was rejected. 8 / 9 His biggest success arrived with Panchayat, where he played Abhishek Tripathi, an engineering graduate working in a rural panchayat office.

Last Updated: May 20, 2026, 18:26 IST

1 / 9 Jitendra Kumar, widely loved for his role in the OTT hit Panchayat, has an inspiring journey that shows how following one’s passion can change life completely. He grew up imitating stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Nana Patekar, and Amitabh Bachchan.

3 / 9 This marked the beginning of what looked like a stable and prestigious engineering career. During his IIT years, however, he discovered his true passion—acting. He actively participated in the ‘Hindi Technology Dramatic Society’, where he explored theatre and stage performances.

4 / 9 It was also during this time that he met Biswapati Sarkar, who later became associated with TVF, a connection that proved life-changing. After graduation, he briefly worked at a MNC job, following the traditional IITian career route.

5 / 9 However, he soon realized that engineering was not his true calling.

Leaving behind job security, he quit his corporate career to fully focus on acting. He also once revealed applying to the National School of Drama (NSD) to formally pursue acting, but was rejected. That setback, however, did not deter him from following his passion.

6 / 9 Speaking about the same, he once told Filmfare, “So I decided to move to Mumbai and do something for TVF. A few things were liked and I started getting a fan following. As the fan following rose, some brands approached me. Since business was doing well, bigger shows like Permanent Roommates and TVF Pitchers came up. And when these shows did well, I looked back at my 10-year journey from a confused person to someone who found a profession in acting. And now that that has happened, bigger things will happen too. That’s how I motivate myself.”

7 / 9 His breakthrough came with TVF’s Pitchers, which brought him widespread recognition.

He later impressed audiences with Kota Factory, where his role as Jeetu Bhaiya became iconic.

8 / 9 His biggest success arrived with Panchayat, where he played Abhishek Tripathi, an engineering graduate working in a rural panchayat office. The series became a massive hit, making him a household name across India.