Actor Kumud Mishra has opened up about his upcoming streaming series 'Satrangi – Badle Ka Khel', set to premiere on ZEE5 on 22 May 2026. The show, directed by Jai Basantu Singh and produced by RND Film LLP, is rooted in the world of Launda Naach, a traditional North Indian folk performance form where men perform in female attire at community celebrations, and explores themes of power, invisibility, and survival in a feudal landscape.

The world of the series

At its core, the narrative is set in a world where power operates through non-linear channels and relationships are shaped by fear and pride. Mishra described what drew him to the project: "What drew me to Satrangi - Badle Ka Khel was the complexity of the world it builds, a world where power is never straightforward, relationships are driven by fear and pride, and every silence carries meaning. The series is deeply rooted, yet its emotional and political tensions feel universally relatable. That layered unpredictability is what makes this story truly engaging."

The protagonist's dual existence

The story follows Bablu Mahto, played by Anshumaan Pushkar, a young man raised in humiliation and silence as the son of a Launda Naach performer. Growing up in a feudal world divided by caste and power, Bablu learns that survival depends not on strength but on understanding how power moves. Living a double life as both Bablu and Lalli, he navigates two opposing worlds—one of control and one of performance—while orchestrating a dangerous game between two dominant families, the Singhs and the Pandeys.

Anshumaan Pushkar on his character

Pushkar elaborated on the psychological depth of his role: "Bablu is a man who has spent his life being unseen, unheard, and underestimated, but beneath that silence is an incredibly sharp understanding of the world around him. His dual existence as Bablu and Lalli becomes his greatest strength as he learns to move through spaces of both power and performance. Satrangi - Badle Ka Khel is not just emotionally intense, but also psychologically layered."

A story beyond revenge

Mahvash, also part of the cast, framed the series as more than a revenge narrative. "Living in a society which is designed to keep certain people invisible, this series is not just a revenge story but it is about the hunger of a man and the right of a human to get equal respect in this society like any other person," she said. She added that the show blends emotional vulnerability with strong social undercurrents, offering what audiences have been seeking in contemporary Indian streaming content.

Cultural authenticity and tradition

The series does not treat Launda Naach as a portrayal of a separate gender identity, but rather as a legitimate cultural performance tradition carried forward by ordinary men across generations in rural India. This grounding in authentic folk tradition sets the narrative apart from typical revenge dramas and adds historical and social resonance to the story.