Few public figures have managed to reinvent themselves as often as Ravi Kishan. Over three decades, he has worn many hats - Bhojpuri superstar, Bollywood and South Indian film actor, television host, reality show favourite, Member of Parliament and, more recently, one of the internet's most reliable meme machines.
Born Ravi Kishan Shukla in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, he built his career from the ground up after moving to Mumbai with dreams of becoming an actor. While he appeared in Hindi films early on, it was Bhojpuri cinema that turned him into a household name. With films such as Pandit Ji Batai Na Biyah Kab Hoi, Devra Bada Satawela and Kanoon Hamra Mutthi Mein, Ravi Kishan became one of the biggest stars in the industry, helping take Bhojpuri cinema to a wider audience.
He later expanded his footprint beyond Bhojpuri cinema with memorable roles in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films. From Tere Naam, Mukkabaaz and Laapataa Ladies to Telugu hits such as Race Gurram, Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy and Akhanda, Ravi Kishan carved a niche for himself by seamlessly moving between commercial blockbusters and character-driven roles.
Television gave him another innings. From Bigg Boss and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa to hosting crime and reality shows, Ravi Kishan's larger-than-life personality made him a natural on the small screen. Most recently, he appeared on the reality show Alliance alongside his daughter, Rivva Kishan.
In 2019, Ravi Kishan entered Parliament after winning the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket. As an MP, he has frequently spoken on issues ranging from cinema and culture to youth and drug abuse, while continuing to juggle his acting commitments.
But in the age of Reels and memes, Ravi Kishan has found an entirely new fanbase. His off-the-cuff remarks, dramatic storytelling and delightfully unpredictable turns of phrase have made him an internet favourite. Whether it is "Jaldi the late", "home from work", "NEET akhbaar", or a philosophical line from an old podcast, his clips keep resurfacing, spawning fresh memes every few weeks. He has even laughed at the phenomenon himself, insisting he has never chased virality.
Today, Ravi Kishan occupies a space few celebrities do. He is equally at home on a film set, in Parliament and on social media timelines - where old interviews are constantly rediscovered, remixed and turned into the internet's latest inside joke. That's precisely what keeps him relevant.
Severe waterlogging following heavy rainfall in Gorakhpur has triggered a political dispute within the Bharatiya Janata Party. The situation escalated after a local party councillor contacted Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan to flag water accumulation in areas that had reportedly never flooded in over a decade. During the phone call, the MP questioned if the councillor had joined the Samajwadi Party, prompting the councillor to retort asking whether the MP had joined the Bahujan Samaj Party. The confrontation has placed scrutiny on the MP's earlier remarks comparing Gorakhpur's development to Spain. Defending the administrative response, Ravi Kishan stated that the intensity of the rain was unprecedented in nearly two decades, adding that municipal pumps were deployed and water levels would recede once the downpour stopped.
From "Har Har Mahadev" to a hair flip on loop — a two-term report card on Ravi Kishan.
As Dhurandhar crosses the Rs 1000 crore mark, Shreya finds out an interesting piece of trivia about the film, but with a Bhojpuri twist!
This special report covers the death threat received by BJP MP and actor Ravi Kishan Shukla on October 31. According to officials, the caller warned Ravi Kishan's private secretary, 'Ravi Kishan comments against Yadavs, so I will shoot him'. The call was allegedly made by a man identifying himself as Ajay Kumar Yadav from Ara, Bihar, who threatened to attack the MP during an upcoming visit. An FIR has been registered at the Ramgarh Taal police station in Gorakhpur, and the Uttar Pradesh police have launched an investigation. The threat comes as Kishan, a star campaigner for the BJP, is actively involved in the Bihar election campaign, prompting his secretary to demand enhanced security for the parliamentarian.
The muhurat puja of 'Mirzapur The Film' was held on Wednesday at the Excel office in Mumbai. It was attended by Pankaj Tripathi, Ravi Kishan, Rasika Dugal, Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi, Shirya Pilgaonkar, Harshita Gaur, Jitendra Kumar and Divyenndu.
Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry for the Oscars 2025. Ravi Kishan, who played a police officer in the film, spoke to India Today TV and shared his happiness.
In this episode of Jab We Met, watch BJP's Gorakhpur candidate and actor Ravi Kishan's exclusive interview with India Today TV's News Director Rahul Kanwal as he talks about the Lok Sabha poll and why the people should vote for him and much more.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday spoke to a momo seller in Gorakhpur during a government programme. During the brief interaction, he jokingly asked him whether any public representative visited his outlet, to which he replied that Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan visited his outlet and also tried a few delinquencies. During the meeting, BJP chief JP Nadda, UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary and senior leaders of the party were also present.
BJP MP Ravi Kishan on Sunday wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, slamming his party and Parliament colleague Ramesh Bidhuri, who abused and directed communal slurs against BSP MP Danish Ali in Lok Sabha. However, he said that Bidhuri was instigated by Ali's "heckling and disturbance" on the floor. "Bidhuri used the objectionable words due to continuous heckling and disturbance made by Shri Kunwar Ali and that's too in the heat of the arguments," Ravi Kishan wrote. Ravi Kishan urged the speaker to "examine the unparliamentary act and use of words" by BSP legislator Danish Ali
Did you know, Ravi Kishan had once narrowly escaped casting couch by someone who's now a big shot? The actor-politician revealed the incident.
In this episode of To The Point, watch exclusive interviews of Urmila Matondkar, Hema Malini, Taapsee Pannu and Ravi Kishan with India Today where they have spoken about drugs use in Bollywood, jung between Kangana and Jaya Bachchan and on other issues.
Bollywood’s alleged links with drug cartel reached Parliament on Monday as BJP MP Ravi Kishan raised the issue and spoke about the impact of narcotics on the film industry.
A day after Ravi Kishan raised the issue of drug menace in Bollywood in Lok Sabha, the battle of Bollywood resonated in Parliament today.
BJP MP Ravi Kishan, who had raised the issue in Lok Sabha and claimed that the drug menace has affected Bollywood, today said that he never said that the entire industry is involved. He added only a few people are involved.
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan raised concerns over ‘conspiracy to defame the film industry’ in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, a day after BJP’s Ravi Kishan claimed that drug addiction is in the film industry too. In a veiled dig at the BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut for their claims on drug menace in Bollywood, MP Jaya Bachchan said, “People in the entertainment industry are being flogged by social media. People who made their names in the industry have called it a gutter. I completely disagree. I hope that govt tells such people not to use this kind of language.” Though Jaya Bachchan did not name BJP's Ravi Kishan, she said, “Just because there are some people, you can't tarnish the image of the entire industry. I am ashamed that yesterday one of our members in Lok Sabha, who is from the film industry, spoke against it. It is a shame.”
Actor Taapsee Pannu has come out in support of Jaya Bachchan. Taking to Twitter, she said, "For we have always stood by the initiatives, causes and awareness campaigns. It’s time for payback. Hitting the nail on its head and how ! Clapping hands sign yet again a woman from the industry spoke up." Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan raised concerns over ‘conspiracy to defame the film industry’ in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, a day after BJP’s Ravi Kishan claimed that drug addiction is in the film industry too. In a veiled dig at the BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut for their claims on drug menace in Bollywood, MP Jaya Bachchan said, “People in the entertainment industry are being flogged by social media. People who made their names in the industry have called it a gutter. I completely disagree. I hope that govt tells such people not to use this kind of language.” Though Jaya Bachchan did not name BJP's Ravi Kishan, she said, “Just because there are some people, you can't tarnish the image of the entire industry. I am ashamed that yesterday one of our members in Lok Sabha, who is from the film industry, spoke against it. It is a shame.”
Reacting to Jaya Bachchan's veiled attack, actor Ravi Kishan said, "Jaya ji has not heard what I exactly said, the entire industry does not consume drugs. Some people take it. Not the entire industry. I said some are trying to break it. I want to know who is sending the peddlers? If I don't raise the issue in the Parliament, who will? I expected Jaya ji to support me, but she attacked me."
Speaking in Lok Sabha on Day 1 of the Monsoon Session, the BJP MP from Gorakhpur, Ravi Kishan, said the problem of drug trafficking and addiction is on a rise. "Conspiracy is being hatched to destroy country's youth, our neighbouring countries are contributing," the Bhojpuri star said. "Smuggling of drugs from Pakistan and China is done every year...it is brought via Punjab and Nepal," Ravi Kishan alleged.
