Jitendra Kumar, aka Jeetu Bhaiya from Kota Factory, is known for his nuanced performances and relatable characters. The 34-year-old is back as the famous 鈥楽achiv-ji鈥 in the latest fourth season of Panchayat. The hit comedy drama returned to Prime Video on June 24. Jitendra might have flourished as an actor, but do you know that before venturing into the entertainment world, he used to be an IIT-ian? His passion for acting was so strong that the Panchayat star quit engineering and the rest is history. Now, let鈥檚 have a look at Jitendra鈥檚 personal and professional life as he rose to stardom,
Who is Jitendra Kumar?
Hailing from a town in Rajasthan鈥檚 Alwar district, Khairthal, Jitendra Kumar cracked his engineering entrance exam as his father wanted a secure life for him. He bagged a seat in the Civil Engineering department at IIT Kharagpur and embarked on his engineering journey. Destiny, however, had different plans for him.
It was while he was studying at the prestigious institution that Jitendra Kumar realised his love for acting. The actor loved mimicking Bollywood personalities like Shah Rukh Khan, Nana Patekar, and Amitabh Bachchan right from his childhood. After understanding his true calling, Jitendra joined the Hindi Technology Dramatic Society at IIT and took part in several theatrical performances.
How Jitendra Kumar took up acting?
It was during one of Jitendra Kumar鈥檚 stage performances that he met Biswapati Sarkar, the creative director at TVF, who changed the course of his life. After graduating, the actor even bagged a high-paying job at an MNC, but he quit his desk job to give wings to his dreams.
In 2014, Jitendra Kumar was cast in TVF鈥檚 Permanent Roommates as Prateek, a role that became a turning point in his life. The following year, he appeared in TVF Pitchers as Jitendra 鈥淛eetu鈥 Maheshwari, which took him to overnight fame. Gradually, this opened doors to more projects like TVF鈥檚 Bachelors, Bisht, Please!, F.A.T.H.E.R.S., and Mr. & Mrs, to name a few.
In 2019, Jitendra Kumar was offered the now-iconic Jeetu Bhaiya in Kota Factory. Besides receiving praise for his acting chops, the actor was also offered several Bollywood projects, including Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Chaman Bahaar, and Jaadugar.
Finally, Jitendra Kumar got his break as a lead actor in Panchayat. He essayed the character of Abhishek Tripathi in the web series.
Jitendra Kumar鈥檚 Net Worth
Jitendra Kumar鈥檚 on-screen portrayals catapulted him to the highest-paid actor in Panchayat. According to Business Standard, he earned Rs 5.6 lakh for the third season with a fee of Rs 70,000 per episode. So far, the actor has already accumulated a net worth of approximately Rs 7 crore as per reports by Zee News and ABP Live.
Luxurious Possessions
Coming to his luxurious possessions, the Kota Factory actor has a wide collection of cars in his garage. According to Financial Express, he owns a Mini Countryman worth Rs 42 lakh, a Mercedes-Benz GLS 350D of Rs 88.18 lakh, a Toyota Fortuner priced at Rs 48.43 lakh and a Mercedes-Benz E-Class featuring a staggering price tag of Rs 82.10 lakh.
Jitendra Kumar has won the Best Actor (Comedy Series) Award at the Filmfare OTT Awards 2020 and the Best Actor in a Series (Male) 鈥 Critics: Comedy Award at the Filmfare OTT Awards 2022.