Ravi Kishan is enjoying a rewarding phase in his career after earning acclaim for Laapataa Ladies and the web series Maamla Legal Hai. He is currently seen in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain: Fun on the Run, the film adaptation of the popular sitcom, by Binaiferr and Sanjay Kohli.

Talking about coming on board the project, he says, “I have always been a fan of the show. The story, the director, and my role all played a big part in my decision. I enjoy making people laugh with a poker face. The character is someone who loves deeply but one-sidedly, and that really excited me. I meet such people almost every day in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.”

Though Ravi has been part of Hindi cinema for decades, wider recognition has come his way only recently. Reflecting on this shift, he says, “I waited patiently for 34 years. At one point, people assumed I had been boxed into a Bhojpuri image, that I had become a politician, grown old, and would now quietly fade away. But sometimes, by God’s grace, just when people think you are finished, a filmmaker like Kiran Rao comes along with a script like Laapataa Ladies, followed by Maamla Legal Hai. Last year showed what I can do when filmmakers believe in me and give me strong material. Meri journey strugglers ke liye ek misaal hai.”

Recounting the phase when meaningful opportunities in Bollywood felt elusive, he says, “After Tere Naam with Salman Khan, I felt exhausted because of the lack of opportunities. I thought yahaan bohot bheed hai, main iss race ka hissa nahi bann paunga, aur koi response nahi dega. Of course, there was frustration and anger, but I channelled that anger into building my own space in the Bhojpuri industry. But I never blamed Bollywood. Hindi cinema ne mujhe pehchaan di hai and taught me everything I later applied to Bhojpuri films.”

Reflecting on delayed success, he adds, “Yeh ugte sooraj ka khel hai, and that is the truth across professions. But there is also a lot of affection coming my way now, and I am grateful for that.”