Panchayat actor abused for her role: Sunita Rajwar played a villain so well it sparked real-world outrage

Sunita Rajwar, known for her impactful portrayal of Kranti Devi in Amazon Prime Video’s Panchayat, has found herself at the centre of an unexpected controversy following the release of the show's fourth season. While her performance as a sharp-tongued political rival brought her critical acclaim, a particular scene sparked online backlash, leading to an outpouring of hateful messages on social media.

In Season 4, Panchayat intensifies its focus on village politics, and Kranti Devi’s character becomes more aggressive amid election tensions. A scene involving a heated exchange between Kranti Devi and the pregnant Khushboo (played by Tripti Sahu) caught the audience's attention for all the wrong reasons. As epr Hindustan Times, viewers took offence at Kranti Devi’s harsh remarks during the altercation, which questioned Khushboo’s relationship with another male character, Prahlad (Faisal Malik).

Actor Targeted for Fictional Role
Although the character’s actions were part of the storyline, many viewers reacted emotionally, flooding Rajwar’s Instagram inbox with abusive messages and criticism. The actress shared that the backlash ranged from verbal abuse to angry accusations, with some questioning how she could speak so cruelly to a pregnant woman—even though it was entirely scripted.

Despite the negativity, Rajwar has chosen to look at the situation from a different perspective. She said that the public’s intense reactions actually confirmed how convincingly she had played her role. For her, the abuse is not discouraging; instead, it serves as a marker of her performance’s authenticity.

Turning Hate Into Humour and Strength
Rajwar admitted that the volume of emotional engagement surprised her, especially as fans often compliment her for her other roles, like the beloved neighbour in Gullak. She and her husband have found humour in the situation, laughing at how deeply people have connected with the fictional village of Phulera and its characters. She even mentioned plans to make a social media reel highlighting some of the dramatic reactions.

Calling the backlash a “medal,” Rajwar said it has only reaffirmed her confidence as an actor. She also acknowledged that her character’s remarks were in retaliation to prior comments made by Manju Devi (played by Neena Gupta) in the same scene, suggesting that the moment was emotionally charged on both sides.