Ravi Kishan on Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain, reviving Bhojpuri cinema and more. Exclusive

Ravi Kishan channels real-life lovers he has seen in UP and Bihar for his role in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! Fun on the Run. In an exclusive to India Today, he also reveals his wish to raise the bar on Bhojpuri cinema with a National Award-worthy film as tribute to his roots.

Ravi Kishan opens up about his new film, Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! Fun on the Run, inspired by the hit TV show Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain, sharing insights into his character, the film's quickly-wrapped-up shoot, real-life inspirations, and his aspirations for Bhojpuri cinema.

In an exclusive interview with IndiaToday.in, the actor delves into his role as a one-sided lover, and how he drew from authentic experiences. "He is a very innocent lover. The kind who just watches from afar and is willing to lose everything, even his life, for his love. That’s how lovers are in our parts. They’ll spend their lives watching someone from a terrace and grow old waiting at a paan shop. She gets married, while he grows old right there. I know many such people in Bihar and UP who have aged this way. When I ask them, ‘Why didn't you get married?’ they reply, ‘I had a love once; she’s now a mother of several children.’ And when I ask about them, they say, ‘I just won't marry now.’ I found that kind of lover in this role."

For Ravi, known for the brash characters he often plays, the role was something unusual. "I had never played a character like this before. I felt that since I know people like this, it would be easier to portray. For instance, I personally know police officers like Manohar (a character in Laapataa Ladies) who speak exactly like he does. I fall in love with characters I recognise from real life – those I’ve personally interacted with." He adds about his character: "This character, Shanti... I've seen many such one-sided lovers. The show (Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain) is a cult classic."

Ravi Kishan, while speaking about the unique aspect of the film, reflected on its appeal amid life's challenges. He emphasised, "I found the story very amusing. There are so many problems in life. To entertain and be entertained is very important. People work hard every day, they get tired, and are burdened by many worries. In the midst of that, if they can find a little joy – especially a comedy that is sharp in its timing, keeps the story engaging and surprises you with the climax – it’s wonderful. This film’s comedy flows along and, in the end, leaves you with a very beautiful message. Shashank (Bali) ji, the writer-director of the film, has passed away. I want to thank Zee for deciding to make a film based on this story."

The film's shoot wrapped up in less than three weeks. The actor said, "We finished the entire shoot in just 17–18 days. If this film performs well over the weekend, it will be a blockbuster. So far, we are getting a decent response, with 30 million views already across all internet platforms. God willing, the film will recover its costs within the weekend itself. It was made in a very short time with a lot of smart planning. Shashank ji had been visualising this for 10 years, so directing it was very easy for him. Only my character, and those of Mukesh Tiwari and Brijendra Kala, were new entries."

He drew parallels to small-budget successes and added, "If the film gains momentum by the 6th, it will be historic – much like how the movie Laapataa Ladies, made on a small budget of Rs 5 crore, went all the way to the Oscars. It would set an example that while big-budget films like Dhurandhar and Border 2 exist, small-budget projects like this one can also thrive, allowing every kind of filmmaker to survive. This is the beauty of the industry: there was a time when the films of Basu Chatterjee and Hrishikesh Mukherjee coexisted with those of Yash Chopra, Raj Khosla, and Manmohan Desai. Massive productions and Amol Palekar’s simpler films both found success."