Panchayat actor Vinod Suryavanshi has made an impact on the audience with his critically acclaimed heart-winning scenes in movies like Panchayat and Hunter alongside Suniel Shetty.Recently, he shared a video on his social media account where he opened up about his early struggles in life, how he worked at a factory, and how his dream to meet his favourite celebrity remained incomplete, but later in life came full circle, and he shared screen space with him.His path to that screen moment wasn’t easy either. From working as a security guard to picking up small junior artist gigs, and eventually landing bigger projects, Vinod’s journey has been anything but ordinary.A childhood shaped by poverty and struggleVinod grew up in a modest Mumbai household, the son of a mason and a domestic worker, and struggled academically enough to fail Class 10 three times. According to a post shared by The Better India, his early life offered little room for comfort, with money always tight and opportunities scarce. It was, by most measures, an unremarkable beginning for someone who would eventually build a career in front of the camera.
His wish remained unfulfilled when he worked as a security guard
Before acting entered the picture, Vinod worked a string of jobs to make ends meet, including six years as a security guard, along with stints as an office boy and in housekeeping.On his Instagram, he shared a video narrating an incident from the time when he worked as a security guard at a factory. While guarding a dairy factory in 2012, he was ordered to give a sharp salute to visiting actor Suniel Shetty.He describes the incident as, “ek black colour ki Mercedes gate se daakhil hui or usme aage Suniel Shetty sir baithe hue the, maine unko ek boht kadak salute maara, magar wo phone pe baat kar rhe the toh unhone dhyan nahi diya, fir wo car se utare or seedha factory ke andar chale gye, ami bhi unke peeche peeche chala gaya, waha pr company k saare employees unke sath selfie waghera le rahe the magar mai duty par tha or ek security guard hone ki wajah se unke sath photo nahi le paya.”He further said that while Suniel Shetty was leaving, he again gave him a salute but his wish to take a photo with the actor remained incomplete.
He then had a turning point in his life
Situations changed when a friend mentioned junior artist work on a film set. According to The Better India, the offer came with a simple line: “There’s work as a junior artist—you’ll get 500 rupees… interested?” Vinod took the chance, stepped in front of a camera for the first time, and slowly found himself drawn to acting, treating each small role over the following years as a kind of informal apprenticeship.
Rejections didn’t stop him from trying
The road wasn’t smooth even after that first opportunity. Vinod faced repeated criticism about his looks and struggled for recognition in an industry not always kind to newcomers without connections.
From saluting a star to sharing the screen with him
Photo: @vinodsuryavanshi2011/ Instagram
In 2023, Vinod landed a role in the web series Hunter: Tootega Nahi, Todega, appearing along with Suniel Shetty, the very actor he had once saluted as a security guard. Further, as he went ahead in his career, he went to gain popularity, recognition, and praise for his role as the secretary in the hit series Panchayat, along with appearances in Jolly LLB 3 and Janaawar, strengthening a career built entirely from persistence and humble beginnings.
