Ravi Kishan opens up about childhood struggles: ‘Fed up with extreme poverty and father's ridicule: "We slept on top of each other in a 10×12 room"
Ravi Kishan
has been acting for over 30 years in movies and TV shows. But it was the 2023 comedy-drama 'Laapataa Ladies' by director Kiran Rao that made people notice his talent in Bollywood. Even though he is a big star in Bhojpuri films, it's surprising that a small film like this helped him become popular again in Hindi cinema.
From an Outsider to a Beloved Star
Coming from outside the film industry, Kishan began his acting career in 1992 with the Bollywood movie 'Pitambar', which featured
Mithun Chakraborty
in the lead role. His journey to success was difficult, but now, as an actor and politician, he says that many people who face hardships see him as their 'hero' because he represents their struggles. He believes his life story serves to 'inspire' others. During a recent conversation on Raj Shamani's podcast, Kishan shared that he started with nothing but has been visible everywhere over the years—on stage, television, and in multiple languages.
He said, 'Yet, people have been watching me for years now. They have seen me everywhere: on stage, on television, and that too across various languages. Where have I not been there? 750 films is a huge number. You go anywhere, you can see me or hear my voice. I consider that Mahadev's blessing.'
Facing Extreme Poverty and Family Struggles
Reflecting on the hardships he endured before achieving success as an actor, Kishan shared, 'I have seen a lot of poverty.
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I saw so much poverty that I was disgusted by it. I grew up seeing as many as 12 people (his family) eating the same Khichdi that contained only a little bit of rice and so much water. We all slept in a 10×12 room, sometimes even on top of each other. Even the toilet was situated outside the house. I was extremely poor and was fed up with poverty as well as the taunts.
I did not want to hear my father being ridiculed any more.'
On Casteism and Personal Destiny
When questioned about the impact of casteism on his life and whether things might have been different if he belonged to another caste, the actor-turned-politician firmly stated that his destiny was independent of his caste background.
'Ravi Kishan would have been Ravi Kishan no matter which caste he belonged to. This is because I was blessed by Lord Shiva. And I didn't want to die an anonymous man. Once I decided that I didn't want to die unknown, I was ready to do whatever it took.
What's the benefit of you coming to earth if even your neighbour doesn't know that you passed away? You are not here to just make children or buy a bungalow. Recognition is what matters, and money will follow.
Name or price? Name! Once you attain a name, everything will come running after you,' he explained.
Advice on Discipline and Success
When asked about the key to gaining recognition and building a strong foundation, Ravi emphasizes the importance of daily discipline and healthy habits. He advises, 'Go to gym every day. If you don't have money to join a gym, go for a run every day on the road. Run for at least 3-5 km. Hit 200 pushups.
Soak chana in water overnight, and the next morning, drink the water and eat the soaked chana. Even if you are poor, you get these things for free from the government; make use of them.
At least, wake up before sunrise and exercise daily. Watch sunrise every day, and that itself will bring about all the changes.'
Upcoming Projects
On the work front, Ravi Kishan is gearing up to star in 'Son of Sardaar 2', directed by
Vijay Kumar Arora
, where he will share the screen with Ajay Devgn and Mrunal Thakur. This film is a spiritual follow-up to the 2012 action-comedy directed by
Ashwni Dhir
. Notably, Kishan is stepping into a role that was first meant for
Sanjay Dutt
in the sequel.
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