Latest news with #LaapataaLadies
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
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, a veteran actor with over 30 years of experience, gained renewed Bollywood recognition through 2023's 'Laapataa Ladies'. Rising from extreme poverty and overcoming caste barriers, he credits discipline and perseverance for success. He will next appear in Son of 'Sardaar 2', sharing the screen with Ajay Devgn. 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Resmed AirSense 11 with flat 20% off ResMed Buy Now Undo 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.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ravi Kishan says he was ‘fed up with extreme poverty, father getting ridiculed, living in a tiny house with 12 family members': ‘We slept on top of each other'
Although Ravi Kishan has been working as an actor for over three decades now, shifting between films and television shows, it was director Kiran Rao's comedy drama Laapataa Ladies (2023) that truly established him as a performer in Bollywood, revealing his untapped potential and range. A star in the Bhojpuri film industry, it's somewhat ironic that what brought him back into the spotlight in Hindi cinema was, as he once described it, 'a small and tiny film'. An outsider, Kishan made his acting debut in 1992 with the Bollywood film Pitambar, starring Mithun Chakraborty in the lead role. However, his road to fame and stardom wasn't easy, and the actor-turned-politician recently stated that those who go through struggles in life consider him their 'hero' as he represents them. He maintained that his life story 'inspires' them. Mentioning that he had nothing with him when he commenced his journey, Kishan said during a recent appearance on Raj Shamani's podcast, '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.' Opening up about the struggles he faced in life before making it big as an actor, Kishan said, 'I have seen a lot of poverty. 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.' When asked whether casteism had played a role in it, and if his life would have been different had he belonged to another caste, the actor-politician asserted that he would have become what he wanted to be, regardless of his community. '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 added. How to attain that name and establish oneself? Ravi Kishan says, '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.' Kishan will be next seen in director Vijay Kumar Arora's Son of Sardaar 2, playing a key role alongside Ajay Devgn and Mrunal Thakur. A spiritual sequel to the 2012 action comedy helmed by Ashwni Dhir, Kishan will be playing in Son of Sardaar 2 the role that was originally earmarked for Sanjay Dutt.
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ravi Kishan's mother was sure his father would kill him, asked him to run away from home: ‘He would beat me everyday… I didn't cry when he died'
Ravi Kishan is a renowned actor and politician today. His acting in Laapataa Ladies and Maamla Legal Hai proved he was more than just a regional star. But to achieve this, he struggled for 33 years. And before that, he lived a traumatic childhood where his father Shyam Narayan Shukla would beat him up almost every day. So much so that one day his mother asked him to run away and handed him Rs 500. 'He will kill you,' the actor recalled. In a recent podcast with Raj Shamani, Ravi Kishan opened up about his terrifying childhood. 'I was trying to prove to my father that I was worth loving,' shared Ravi Kishan. Recalling his relationship with his father, the actor shared, 'He would often think I was nalayak (useless), and I wanted to prove that I wasn't. He was a priest. Intelligent. He was a proud Brahmin.' 'I once asked him, why do you pray so much? At the end of the day, you are still wearing a torn piece of cloth and have a broken cycle.' This made him angry and he hit me very hard. Ravi then shared it was an everyday affair. 'He would beat me up every day.' He called it fun. He explained, 'Because my dad never spoke to me or pampered me, I would feel him hitting me is the closest to loving me and communicating.' Ravi's dad was very possessive about his image and was dead against Ravi Kishan's love for acting. 'I used to take part in plays in the village. I played the role of Goddess Sita and often wore my mother's saree. This gave him a fit (of anger). He went crazy. He told me, 'Have you gone crazy, do you want to become a nachaniya (a degrading word for artistes).' He wanted me to do farming and sell milk.' His dad's aggression once pushed him to leave the house. 'One day my dad hit me so hard that I had to run away. That day, my mom gave me Rs 500 and said, 'Please go, otherwise he will kill you today.'' After leaving his house, Ravi Kishan tried his luck in Bollywood, but it wasn't fruitful. He would often land small roles and producers always denied him money. They would threaten to cut his screen time if he demanded fees. He had to choose between money and work. After struggling for 10 years in the Hindi film industry, he entered the Bhojpuri industry, which shot him to regional fame (mostly UP and Bihar). It was only after this that his father began to respect him. 'My dad started to respect me after I started to earn a lot of money… when I started giving him air tickets to visit me. After I gave him best of clothes, a good car, and a bungalow. One day he started crying and said, 'Please forgive me. I always misunderstood you.' I fell on his feet and said, 'Please, don't do this.' I saw God in him.' ALSO READ | Boney Kapoor's drastic body transformation: Loses 26 kgs without hitting the gym, skips dinner and has fruits for breakfast Even when their relationship started to take a healthy turn, Ravi still felt under confident around his father. 'I just longed for his love. All I wanted was him to hug me once and not think that I am useless. It was only when he grew old, I could be clingy with him. My fear reduced because he was weak. It was a high when I put my arms across his shoulder. With age, he become my child and I became his father.' During this time, the actor gained the courage to question his father: 'Why did you hit me so much?' His dad replied, 'I thought you would do something wrong.' The actor shared, 'He mostly beat me fearing I might do something wrong. He would randomly smell my mouth and assume I have had alcohol. But, it never was the case. This culture didn't exist then. But he would always assume, 'What if you did'. Mujhe maar padti thi ki 'nalayak hojate toh?' He would always beat me in advance thinking I might end up doing something wrong.' When success followed Ravi Kishan, his dad craved his presence. 'He would often cry and remember me and ask my mother to make him talk to me.' While Ravi made peace with his dad's 'way of love', he still wishes he wasn't physically abusive. 'I would never teach my kids to physically abuse someone. I still think he could have communicated better than simply hitting me. But, I guess it was lack of awareness. One should never hit their children. One must talk. That's the approach I take towards my kids.' In the same interview, Ravi Kishan shared that he didn't cry after his dad's passing. 'I was with him during his last days. When I realised he doesn't have too much time left, I flew him to Banaras in private jet. He died there. I never cried. I still cannot feel it. It will take me days to get over it and I don't know when those feelings will come out. I miss him in every breath.'
India.com
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Netflix India's top 10 most-watched films is a mix of blockbusters and underdogs, a non-star film ranks at no. 4
Well, we all have seen viewers' shift from big screen to OTT now, and Netflix India just dropped a list of its Top 10 most-watched films, and it's a mix of blockbuster action, emotional drama, and small-budget gems that turned into OTT favourites. Any guesses, who is at the top? No surprise here, it's SS Rajamouli's RRR is sitting right at the top. The mega-hit, which stormed the box office, has also shattered records on OTT with 43.65 million views so far. Even after three years (1095 days) on the platform, it's still unstoppable. The film stars Jr. NTR, who is also known as Tarak, Ram Charan in the lead roles, while Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn are also in the film, marking their south debut. 'I'm glad both Tarak and Charan agreed to be part of this project. Even if one of them said no, I wouldn't have taken up this subject. Charan will play young Alluri Seetharama Raju and Tarak as young Komaram Bheem,' Rajamouli said. Who's next in line after RRR? It's Jawan, of course. Shah Rukh Khan's massive hit, directed by Atlee, raked in Rs 640 crore at the box office—and is now pulling huge crowds on Netflix too. With 31.90 million views, Jawan is currently the most-watched Bollywood film on Netflix. Complete list The list has a healthy mix of commercial entertainers and critically acclaimed films. Check out the top 10: RRR (Hindi) – 43.65 million views Jawan – 31.90 million Gangubai Kathiawadi – 29.64 million Laapataa Ladies – 29.50 million Animal – 29.20 million Crew – 27.20 million Maharaja – 27.10 million Fighter – 26.30 million Lucky Bhaskar – 26.30 million Shaitaan – 24 million OTT audiences are loving a mix of massy blockbusters (RRR, Jawan, Animal) and fresh, rooted stories (Laapataa Ladies, Maharaja). It also signals a shift—it's no longer just about theatrical success, but how long a story can live online.
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
No Fear Of Being ‘Typecast': Karan Tacker On His Dad Roles In Khakee, Tanvi The Great
Last Updated: Breaking stereotypes of being typecast, Karan Tacker embraced fatherly roles on screen, starting with the web show Khakee: The Bihar Chapter. Unlike many actors who hesitate to take on paternal roles, Karan Tacker has wholeheartedly embraced the challenge. After making his debut as a father in the web series Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, he's reprising the role in the upcoming film Tanvi The Great, showcasing his versatility as an actor. But doesn't he fear being typecast? Karan said no! In a recent interview with The Times of India, Karan said, 'I've never really looked at these things from such a micro lens where I feel that once you play a father, then you will only be cast as a father. I don't think I will get typecast. In my next project, I am not playing a father." He elaborated further, saying, 'It's the character you pick. The profession of that character or his age is all peripheral and it doesn't really matter." Drawing inspiration from veteran actor Anupam Kher, Karan Tacker reflected on the importance of role selection. Citing Anupam's bold career choices, Karan noted, 'He started his career playing an old man in Saaransh (1984). I think he was not even 30 years old when he started. I feel all this slotting is in some people's minds. If you can excel in what you do, I don't think these things matter." Tanvi The Great has earned international recognition, defying traditional Bollywood norms. According to Karan, the distinction between mainstream and unconventional cinema has become increasingly blurred, allowing films like Tanvi The Great to break through and resonate globally. He continued, 'What is a typical Bollywood film? Who knew Laapataa Ladies is going to be successful at the box office? Who knew Vicky Donor would be a commercial success? These are all unconventional films that became massive hits and then people started following the narrative. These concept films were never supposed to be commercially viable. Today concept films have become typical Bollywood films." On the work front, Karan Tacker has returned to Neeraj Pandey's Special Ops series for its upcoming season. Special Ops Season 2 was released on July 18. The web series features a star-studded cast including Kay Kay Menon, Prakash Raj and Tahir Raj Bhasin. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
