Ravi Kishan is a contestant on the reality show Alliance. During a conversation with fellow contestants, he spoke about his early years in the film industry, the people who mocked him, and the 34 years it took before the industry took him seriously.
He did not name anyone. He did not need to.
“In my life, I have met many such people who used to make fun of me in the past. They were becoming stars in the 90s, and I could see them moving ahead,” he said.
Fully prepared, repeatedly passed over
Ravi Kishan spent years getting ready before he got his first real shot. He learned horse riding, action, Urdu, Hindi, and dancing. He did theatre. And, he said he came into the industry as prepared as he could be.
It did not matter.
“I had a good voice. I knew horse riding, action, Urdu, Hindi, everything. And, I had done theatre, and even learned dancing. I was fully prepared. Even after that, I was left behind while everyone else moved ahead,” he said.
He kept going anyway. He told himself that if others were getting their moment, his would come too. And, he just did not know it would take three and a half decades.
“I kept telling myself that if their time had come, mine would come too. But I never knew my time would arrive after 34 years,” he said.
When it finally came
Ravi Kishan said the turning point arrived suddenly and completely. In one year, he swept Best Actor awards at events where he had previously never been invited. The stages that had been closed to him opened all at once.
“Then it happened, happened after 34 years. I won all the Best Actor awards that year. I stood on stages where I was never invited before. People never used to invite me. Everyone used to make fun of me. No one believed that I could do anything, but today I am here,” he said.
How he got here
Ravi Kishan started his acting career in the early 1990s with Hindi films including Pitambar, Aatank, Army, and Zakhmi Dil. He appeared in multiple Bollywood productions during that period but did not break through in Hindi cinema.
The Bhojpuri film industry changed everything for him. Films like Saiyan Hamar and Pandit Ji Batai Na Biyah Kab Hoi made him one of the most recognisable names in Bhojpuri cinema. He built a career and a fanbase in a space that Hindi film circles had largely ignored, and so had largely ignored him in return.
The recent work
In recent years, Ravi Kishan moved back into Hindi cinema and onto OTT platforms with roles that drew attention from a wider audience.
His performance in Laapataa Ladies brought him significant recognition from critics and audiences. The film earned him multiple awards. His work in the web series Khakee: The Bihar Chapter added another layer to his profile as an actor capable of holding complex roles.
He has also joined the cast of Mirzapur: The Movie, which is scheduled for theatrical release on September 4, 2026.