Actor and Parliamentarian Ravi Kishan, who will be essaying the role of Shri Ram at Ayodhya Ki Ramleela on October 19 and 20 in New Delhi, with the event being telecast worldwide, says he is "scared" to play the deity on stage.

He tells HT City, “Pehli baar Shri Ram ke roop dharan karne ka saubhagya mila and I pray and wish that He enters my body and gives me the energy to perform with grace. I have earlier played Parashuram and Kevat, as a kid I have played Mata Sita as well, and in a TV serial I have essayed the role of Shri Krishna as well, but this is different. I always want to play Shri Ram”

Admitting that he is feeling more scared than he does on screen, he says, "Andar se dara hua hoon! I believe for an actor that fear and scare is very important when you go on the stage, and this is the role of Shri Ram, so all the more reason to get it right… In the subconscious mind it's always there that any mistake does not happen."

Drawing a parallel between stage and screen, he says, "You can't afford to go wrong or improvise and have to stay within the bound script and character. I can have all the experience, but after all we are humans and anyone can commit mistakes! I try to give my 100% and that has resulted in the success of my roles in Mirzapur The Movie, Maamla Legal Hai and Laapatta Ladies."

He recalls that being a son of a priest, he has grown up listening to tales of Shri Ram and Mahadev, and now he is getting the chance. "It's not only about that act – chahrey pe soumyata, shaleenta, saiyam, ekagrita, because you portray the character of puroshon mein uttam Shri Ram. The entire world will watch and on live telecast over 50 crore people will watch it on Doordarshan, OTT and YouTube live streamings."

On his prep, he says, "The great thing is that we are in Navratri and I am fasting, so with a shudh body and pure soul I will essay the role. I am a vegetarian and have been on a special diet to look lean. Before the Ram Leela I will shave off my moustaches and am keeping myself calm and composed so that I can portray the role perfectly."

Ravi Kishan may not have set out to become the internet’s latest obsession, but social media had other plans. The actor and Member of Parliament has lately found himself at the centre of a meme frenzy, with his expressions, dance moves and distinctive dialogue delivery on podcasts and interviews becoming fodder for countless viral posts. From ‘Pehchaan or Paisa? Paisaan! Money follows… my braatheer’ and ‘Hmmmmmm… better do it!’ to ‘Jaldi, the late!’, Kishan’s every move seems to be finding a new audience online.

We caught up with Kishan, who, in his inimitable style, sums up the phenomenon simply: “I don’t do it… it happens, brother!”

He shares, “Yeh kuch alag hi khel chal raha hai, yeh pagalpan hai! Shravan month is on and when Mahadev showers his blessings, this happens. It has never happened before for anyone in this country.”

For Kishan, perhaps the most surprising part is that none of this was planned. “The best part is that this is happening organically. Even the BJP handle, Delhi Police and Maharashtra Government have made memes. I am personally following it all and dropping a ‘like’ as well,” he says.

The 57-year-old credits Gen Z for it all: “No one has discovered me before. Gen Z has accepted me as their own. I really want to thank them and salute their creativity.”

Kishan believes the connection goes beyond the memes and viral clips. “Out of love, they call me Lord Ravi, God Ravi, today’s Osho and whatnot! They love real people; they connect with my imperfections, which makes them feel I am one amongst them. Everyone makes mistakes, so do I and I accept it as well. Main dil se bolta hoon aur meri sacchai logon ko pasand aa rahi hai,” he ends.

From his animated dance at the launch of his show, Mamla Legal Hai 2, to his impromptu singing clips, every other reel on social media is about Ravi Kishan. Over the past few weeks, creators across Instagram have been recreating his expressions, dialogues and mannerisms, while many online have even cheekily dubbed him "India's Henry Cavill." While many celebrities struggle to keep up with the internet's relentless meme culture, Kishan appears to be embracing the meme fest with ease.

Speaking to Bombay Times, Ravi Kishan says, "If you lose the ability to laugh at yourself, you lose a part of your freedom. People are having fun, and as long as it's in good spirit, why should I be offended? So, I smile, I move on, and I focus on doing good work. The internet will always find something new tomorrow."

Was any of it a conscious decision? He retorts, "Absolutely not. If you start planning viral moments, they stop being real. The audiences of today are incredibly smart; they are hyper aware of authentic and organic moments. I've never chased virality. I just try to stay authentic. I've never sat down thinking, 'This line will trend,' or 'This will become a reel.'"

Despite enjoying cult status online, Kishan who was trolled for going on National Duty after exiting from a reality show, admits "it is certainly a daunting balance". "My primary focus has always been to serve my constituents with honesty and commitment, because public service is not just a position it's a duty. I believe both roles can complement each other rather than compete," he adds.

Reflecting on why Gen-Z audiences have embraced him decades after he first entered the industry, he says, "I think what Gen-Z connects with is authenticity. They have an incredible ability to recognize what is real and what is manufactured. Throughout my career, I have never tried to imitate anyone else. I also believe that entertainment has no expiry date. If my work can entertain a young person today just as it entertained someone twenty years ago, that is the greatest compliment an artist can receive."

While a few are in good faith, a few are criticising and have a trolling innuendo. While it doesn't bother Ravi, he adds, "My rule is very simple being focused on my work. When you're completely invested in your responsibilities, whether as an actor or as a public representative, you don't have the time or the energy to be distracted by every opinion on social media. In today's world, you don't need to say much to become a meme. Sometimes it's just an expression, an airport walk, or a single sentence. That's the nature of the times, and I've learned not to take it personally. I've always believed that if you start changing yourself to avoid trolling, you slowly lose the person you truly are. I would rather remain authentic than become overly cautious. The people who genuinely appreciate you connect with your honesty, not with a carefully manufactured image. Tareef aur trolling, dono temporary hain."

At a time when weight-loss drugs dominate transformation conversations, actor-politician Ravi Kishan says he relied on dietary changes and exercise to lose 18kg.

“I was 90 kg and dropped to 72 kg. Prepare kar raha hoon apni body ko, ripped kar de raha hoon, shrink kar raha hoon,” the 57-year-old tells us. Political duties and visits to his Gorakhpur constituency led to some weight gain, he says, but he has now returned to a fruit-heavy diet to regain a leaner frame. He says, “I lost 18kg by changing how I eat.”

His changing screen appearances prompted the transformation. “Laapataa Ladies (2024) required me to look heavy, in Mirzapur: The Movie I will look lean, while in Naagzilla I have a super-fit body. When you are in your 50s, it’s not easy, but food changes can help, as 70-80% is what you eat and the rest is exercise,” he says.

Kishan clarifies that his regimen is flexible rather than strictly fruit-only. “It’s Mahadev’s blessing that he gives me the strength to be on a one-meal diet, intermittent fasting or exclusively on fruits,” he says, adding, “But I keep tweaking it to manage my political duties. These days, Parliament is in session, so I take soaked dry fruits and salad. As needed, I add protein, carbs and ghee too.” Avocado, kiwi, apples, bananas, oranges and fresh juices are among his preferred choices.

He also stresses the importance of exercise. “Your pant waistline is the biggest monitor, and it never lies. But along with diet, you need to exercise regularly for muscle health,” says Kishan.

Fruits are packed with micronutrients that can help digest and increase uptake or utilisation of other nutrients in our body, but they cannot replace a complete diet. Our body needs essential fats and proteins, and a complete meal should comprise cereals, pulses, dairy, vegetables and fruits, says nutritionist Rashi Chahal.

People with diabetes or kidney disease, pregnant or lactating women, older adults, those who are underweight, on medication or have a history of eating disorders should avoid restrictive diets without medical supervision.

Chahal calls it a short-term fad rather than a sustainable weight-loss plan. The initial drop may largely be water, glycogen and muscle, not body fat, and the weight can return once regular eating resumes.

“Celebs often have a short-term goal and access to nutritionists, trainers and medical supervision. What works for a two-month transformation cannot become a benchmark for everyday health.”

Inputs from Radhika Bhirani

Ravi Kishan is arguably in one of the strongest phases of his career. With Laapataa Ladies and Maamla Legal Hai, the actor is enjoying some of his most impactful roles. However, there was a time when, faced with a lack of meaningful opportunities in Bollywood, he chose to step away and build a formidable space for himself in Bhojpuri cinema, eventually rising to become one of its biggest stars.

Today, as regional cinema commands nationwide attention and respect, Ravi reflects on the journey of Bhojpuri cinema and his role in shaping its perception.

He says, “Mere Hindi cinema ke struggle ke baad, main intezaar kar raha tha aur chahta tha ki Bhojpuri cinema ko bhi sammaan mile. Mujhe usko izzat dilvaani thi, aur yahaan ke kalaakaron ko bhi izzat mile. We worked very hard on this, and today my juniors are benefiting from it.”

He adds, “The destination I had in mind was to gain appreciation and not be called downmarket, koi dekhega nahi, and aaj woh sab ho raha hai. Aaj main dekh raha hoon ki woh log aage badh rahe hain. Kyunki ek beej boya tha, aur main uss khet ka kisaan tha. I am not surprised because I saw this coming. Now my aim is to bring a script that can get us a National Award.”

Speaking about his decision to move away from Bollywood at a time when Bhojpuri cinema lacked acceptance, Ravi admits it was a risk many advised against.

He says, “Everybody told me that I would be finished, and no one would cast me in Hindi films. But I had faith in my God. Karo ya maro. I also had no choice. It’s not that I was getting many offers in Bollywood or earning well. So, I decided to take a chance, and things started falling into place.”

On whether the content and perception of Bhojpuri cinema have evolved over time, Ravi believes the change has been gradual but significant.

He shares, “Yes, after a lot of planning, the perception changed. Aaj bahut sammaan se dekha jaa raha hai, and I am very happy. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. Abhi bhi dilli door hai and the focus has to remain on making good films. There is a shortage of good writers and directors. People need to be trained, writers need to be paid better, and more attention has to be given to music again. The industry has gone through a low phase, and there is a need to revive it. I will soon make a Bhojpuri film, possibly a musical.”

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.”

With Laapataa Ladies being chosen as India’s entry for the Oscars, Ravi Kishan feels his hard work has finally paid off. In a conversation with Bombay Times, the actor, who has been a part of 750 movies across languages, talks about his 34-year-long journey in showbiz and the excitement around the Kiran Rao directorial heading to the Oscars. Excerpts:

There is a sparkle in his eyes when Ravi talks about Laapataa Ladies. “I’ve been waiting for 34 years for this day. The art I learned was a fusion of natural acting and entertainment. Today, I feel like it has paid off. I am optimistic about the film making it to the top five because I believe that the movie resonates with the global audience and tackles subjects like women’s empowerment and shattered dreams,” he says.

Ravi may have started his career with Hindi films, but his breakthrough came with Bhojpuri cinema, and he became a superstar there. “I was not getting mainstream offers. I was fed up. I didn’t have money even after Tere Naam because people didn’t give me good work. When I got into Bhojpuri films, people said my career would be over, but I went ahead as I had to run my house,” shares the actor, who was recently seen in Singham Again.

He further adds, “People humiliated me and tried to crush me, but I don’t hold any grudges against anyone. I’ve learned a lot in life; I’ve crawled and managed to reach here. I’m a self-made man.”

He also mentions, "I didn’t have money. I had mortgages to pay. I wanted to settle my family, my children, and my parents. So, every time I was doing any work, I was doing it for others. Now that life is settled I want to do it for myself. I want people to remember that there was an crazy actor like Ravi Kishan in India. I'm the same crazy man who made an entire Bhojpuri industry and gave employment to many. I sold Litti Chokha in the world of Pizza."

Kishan's journey has not been without hurdles. He recalls, "People humiliated me, crushed me, put me down and many didn’t even pay me.” Yet, he chooses to forgive. “I am immune. I have no grudge against people. I'm just on my journey. I don't remember my enemies. I've learned with life, I've crawled, and I've reached here. I'm a self-made man,” he mentions.

Ravi states he is an open book. After being in the industry for many years, and like many celebrities, he has faced personal and professional challenges as well.

Ask him his philosophy on dealing with adversity and he says, “You pay a price for everything. All things are part and parcel of life. When you are a celebrity and then a politician, you have to deal with things quietly. It is okay as long as you your conscience is clear, and your wife respects you. You are only answerable to your family and nobody else.”

He’s been part of the Hindi industry for close to three decades, but actor Ravi Kishan got a chance to lead from the front, in the web show Maamla Legal Hai. Kishan, who is revelling in all the love he has been receiving for his performance, says, “My performance is being appreciated and the nuances that even I missed, people have caught them. People found Ravi Kishan a surprise. Logon lo ek naya OTT face dikha hai.”

Prior to this, Kishan has been a part of web shows such as Rangbaaz, Hasmukh, Matsya Kaand, The Whistleblower and Khakee: The Bihar Chapter. However, he was always either there in a supporting capacity or in a cameo.

“I used to get only one ball and people would expect me to hit a six. But no one thought of giving me an entire over. I got this chance now and the entire country is appreciating and loving it,” he insists.

However, the 54-year-old credits OTT for keeping the “fire” in him alive. “I’ve now got the platform and opportunity to showcase myself, to show that your entire body can perform without being loud. I learnt to live the characters here. The OTT platforms give you a larger audience. The fact that they have their remotes in hand and you still can convince them to stay hooked, is a huge win. Ab log mere liye opportunities dhoondhna shuru kar diye hain,” he explains.

A lot of OTT content today delves into gritty and dark spaces. Kishan agrees that there was a void in the lighthearted space, which his show has filled.

“Every genre has an audience, but through this show, they tapped a wider audience as three generations of a family could sit and enjoy the show together. Its success is a surprise to me, too,” notes Kishan, adding, that as opposed to what’s often believed, “Abusive language wouldn’t help you get audience. Yeh aam zindagi mein toh roz ho hi raha hai.”

On all the admiration and acclaim coming his way, the Mission Raniganj (2023) and Laapataa Ladies actor says staying relevant through the 33 years he has been active for, hasn’t been a cakewalk. He has tried his hand across languages and mediums to find a footing.

He shares, “Meri survival ki fight thi kyonki mujhe zinda rehna tha. I wanted to stay in the battlefield and not quit as I knew my day to strike will come. I feel it has come, as people have noticed my performances.”

Not finding enough recognition in Hindi films earlier on, Kishan gravitated towards the nascent Bhojpuri film industry. “Mujhe laga wait karke koi faayda nahin hai and thankfully, my community made me a superstar,” he says. But there are still people who look down on the Bhojpuri films. 

Responding to it, Kishan says, “I have made a pan-India film, Mahadev Ka Gorakhpur, for this reason. It’s the first time a Bhojpuri film is releasing in the USA. This is for the people who look down on Bhojpuri cinema, so that it gets the respect it deserves.”

Actor-parliamentarian Ravi Kishan swears by his new rule: if you want to work with him, be ready to pay well. “I have a big family to take care of,” says The Whistleblower actor, adding, “I am an expensive actor now. There’s been a tenfold hike in my fee, as I have been spending from my pocket to take care of my people and social work. The makers are happily paying, as they want my dates. Maine lagbhag 15 saal free mein kaam kiya hai. Koi paise deta nahin tha aur main maang nahin paata tha. People used me a lot. But things changed after Tere Naam (2003) and Luck (2009), as people understood my craft and the loyal fan base I have.”

Having spent almost three decades in the film industry, the actor is glad that he’s still flooded with offers across industries and mediums. “Be it films, web series, Bhojpuri or south films, I get offers almost every day. But I am very selective about what I do. In fact, I haven’t been able to spare much time for acting due to my political and social commitments, but work is still happening,” says the 52-year-old.

While one might assume that his political career would have taken a toll on his acting commitments, the Mukkabaaz (2017) actor feels his craft has improved after venturing into politics. “The process of learning acting is by communicating with people. [During my political engagements] I keep reading minds, observing people and save the observations in my mind to bring them to use when needed,” says Kishan.

Actors-turned-politicians Ravi Kishan and Manoj Tiwari used to be rivals and competitors when they started their career with Bhojpuri films. The two never used to speak to each other and there was hardly any interaction due to the fierce competition between them. However, now, after many years, the two are anchoring a crime-based TV show Mauka-E-Vardaat.

Ravi said, “Those days when we started our career, we were different from what we are as individuals now. Many years back, I was trying to establish a foothold in Bhojpuri cinema and Manoj was also doing many interesting Bhojpuri films. We were arch rivals and there was fierce competition between us. Due to rivalry, we hardly spoke to each other and were extremely cordial at social functions. I was constantly checking out how his film faired at the box office and vice versa. It was more about checking who is doing better.”

He shared how the two are now good friends. “I remember when we were rivals, there were many people around me who used to influence me wrongly, and therefore, I could never be friends with Manoj. But thankfully, all of that is past now, and we are good friends. There is no rivalry now, and those days are gone. On the crime show, we are not anchoring together. He is anchoring a few episodes while I am anchoring a few episodes. And we both have different styles of hosting a show.”

Earlier this week, the Uttar Pradesh government granted Y+ category security to actor and Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan. This followed reports of threats to the actor’s life after he raised the issue of drug abuse in Bollywood in the Parliament. The last few weeks have seen Ravi Kishan, the Parliamentarian, more in focus than Ravi Kishan, the actor. The 51-year-old says it’s deliberate — a chance to “use the platform given to him”. Excerpts from a chat:

Yeah! You are talking about cartels and drug traffickers. So, the minute you talk about it, woh to laazim hai that you will be on their radar, be a target. There is a chance you may be shot. That’s why nobody touched all this.

If I thought all this, I would have never been able to do anything. People would forever know me as Ravi Kishan, the actor. They wouldn’t know that there was another person beyond that. This drugs issue was bothering me for a long time. When I started in the industry, I hadn’t seen all this that I have in the last seven-eight years. I had to speak up, warna agli generation ka kya hoga? An artiste is not an ornament in the Parliament. If I am there, given a platform, I wanted to use it and be a voice.

It was never this bad. A sort of cool attitude has developed about chemicals. Gaane ban rahe hain iske upar jahan cool bataya jaa raha tha isko. In fact, I had raised the drugs issue in the Parliament earlier, too, two sessions ago. Just that it did not get this much publicity then.

We have to raise issues and me being from the fraternity, I have to do it. Aur kaun karega? I have raised 148 questions in Parliament. This is why I am there, to raise issues, to ask questions. And you must realise that my questions are to my own government. They are in power, unko jawab dena padega na. I did that and I had assumed Jaya ji (Jaya Bachchan), being my senior, would support me but reaction ulta aaya wahan se.

No way. She is my senior and that thought can never change. I am from that school where if a senior walks into a room today, we stand up. Senior ki gaadi bhi pass hui toh hum khade ho jaate hain.

I don’t support this culture of impulsive Twitter messages and posts. This civility, this sanyam, has gone from discussions in Bollywood. See, this industry has several Bharat Ratna, Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Padma award winners. People idolise us and they hang on to every word, every move of ours. I have worked with some of the biggest superstars in the south. They conduct themselves with such dignity, such tehzeeb because they know that in places, they are almost worshipped as gods. We have a responsibility to be civil. In today’s time — be it on Twitter or anywhere else — we have to be really careful about our language. That determines what message you are sending out and how people perceive the industry. I get really upset by the language. Seniors ko aapko izzat deni hai. There might be 200-300 role models in a population of 135 crores in India. Many of them are from Bollywood. Toh aapko bahut gaur se chalna hoga.

They may not know my Bhojpuri film won a National Award (Kab Hoi Gavna Hamar in 2005). They have just used Bhojpuri for item songs in their films and commercialised it. So many legendary filmmakers from Benares, Lucknow and Bihar are there, but none of them have come to clean up the Bhojpuri cinema. If they are that concerned with obscenity in Bhojpuri cinema, being from the region, why didn’t they come and help me? Main toh keh raha tha sab se ki aao yahan film banao. Inko aana hi nahin tha kabhi. Sudhaar dete. Akela Ravi Kishan kya kar lega? They are from this land only. And let’s not talk about obscenity, because that exists in every film industry.

What I am saying is that there are music videos in Bhojpuri that are obscene. They exist and many people mistake them for Bhojpuri cinema. Bhojpuri cinema is much more than just those songs. Un music videos ne naam kharab kiya hai. I am bringing a censor for that.