Internet’s favourite, Jeetu Bhaiya, is in the mood for a change. After a spate of slice-of-life shows like TVF Pitchers, Kota Factory, and Panchayat, actor Jitendra Kumar is trading the genre for his first suspense film, Bhagwat. The decision was motivated by a simple feeling — he knew it was time he did something that wasn’t expected of him. “People have mostly seen me in roles that are warm and relatable. So, stepping into a genre that relies on tension and unpredictability was exciting,” he tells mid-day.

For Kumar, the Zee5 crime thriller was about taking a leap into the unknown and emerging richer as an artiste. “It was about discovering a new kind of energy, one that is more intense and internal,” he shares. The actor was admittedly nervous before the unit shot the thriller in Uttar Pradesh. “There were nerves. That’s a good sign because it means I care about what I’m doing,” he smiles.