Celebrated for his portrayal of Vinod in *Panchayat* and Dhencha in Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper, this actor reflects on his evolving career, the impact of his roles, and his Cannes experience.

Ashok Pathak has made a big change in his acting career, moving from playing the lovable Vinod in Panchayat to the emotionally complex Dhencha in Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper (TMCAT). Starting with Bittoo Boss over a decade ago, his career has seen both praise and growth.

From Vinod's Innocence to Dhencha's Depth

Vinod was a character admired for his simplicity and kind intentions. Now, Ashok Pathak is taking on Dhencha, a role with much deeper emotional challenges. `Vinod reached a lot of people and they loved him,` he says. `Dhencha is different, with many layers, and it has been a fascinating change. Dhencha is a complete gangster who is living life at his own terms meanwhile Vinod is a guy who gets influenced very easily.

Fan Reactions and Personal Moments

At first, Ashok Pathak was worried that fans might only see him as Vinod, but he is happy with how well people have received Dhencha. `I was concerned if people would accept me as Dhencha,` he admits. `But the feedback has been great. Fans have sent me touching messages, and it's been amazing to see how a character can impact real lives.` One memorable fan encounter happened when he was stuck in Mumbai traffic. `A guy recognized me and started shouting my name,` he says. `It was a bit overwhelming, but it showed me how much a character can mean to people.`

Cannes and Career Growth

The actor's career took a major turn when he starred in a film that was shown at the Cannes Film Festival alongside Radhika Apte. `I was nervous when I auditioned for the lead role,` he shares. `It was for a British Film Academy production. Being cast with Radhika Apte and representing India at Cannes was incredible. I felt like I was learning something new every day.`

Moving Beyond Typecasting

While Vinod's popularity could have led to similar roles, he feels that Dhencha has opened up new opportunities. `Vinod became famous and led to similar parts, but with *TMCAT*, people have seen what more I can do,` he explains.

As Ashok Pathak continues his career, his ability to take on different and challenging roles shows promise for even more exciting performances ahead.