EXCLUSIVE! Ravi Kishan: ‘Laapataa Ladies & Netflix’s Maamla Legal Hai made me feel alive after 33 years’ | Not Just Bollywood

In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Firstpost’s Lachmi Deb Roy for Not Just Bollywood, actor Ravi Kishan talks about his recently released movie Laapataa Ladies and Netflix’s series Maamla Legal Hai, his political journey and more.

In the candid chat Ravi Kishan mentions that he felt alive after 33 years as a craftsman after doing Laapataa Ladies and Maamla Legal Hai . Both of them were released on the same day_._ After the huge success of Maamla Legal Hai Season 1, he will be seen again in Season 2. As fans eagerly anticipate the return of their beloved characters, one wonders if V.D. Tyagi ko justice mein kick milegi ya nahi?

Edited excerpts from the interview:

When you choose a role what is the thing that you keep in mind?

During my initial years and even before the release of both Laapataa Ladies and Maamla Legal Hai, I basically kept waiting for a good role where I could show my craft. When these two projects came, I knew it is time for me to say yes to both. Earlier I used to get one film and people expected me to give a sixer in that one ball. I have been working in the entertainment industry for 33 years and I wanted to show that natural way of performing art which I have been doing for so many years. After reading the script of both Laapataa Ladies and Mamla Legal Hai, I felt that both these projects will give me the satisfaction, the popularity that I have been looking for in mainstream cinema.

What do you have to say about the recognition you got after the release of _Laapataa La_dies and Mamla Legal Hai?

After doing Laapataa Ladies, I felt alive after 33 years because I got the recognition for my craft that I have been looking for so many years. I don’t know whether to love or cry, but it was like I was alive, but nobody recognized my work. But the recognition I got after Laapataa Ladies and Netflix’s Mamla Legal Hai, I was in shock. I never expected that kind of response for my work. Thank God people have finally noticed me. I thank Kiran Rao, Aamir Khan and Netflix every day. Both Laapataa Ladies and Mamla Legal Hai were launched on the same day. And both of them in one night spread the word there is an artist whom you thought was a nobody.

I believe it is just time. Everybody is fighting for survival. So, I won’t blame it on anybody. Now, when I didn’t get the recognition in the Hindi film industry, I moved to the Bhojpuri film industry. Because I was not getting the roles that I wanted to do. And I was tired of struggling in this city called Bombay. So, I made an industry of my own in the villages. I made myself a super star there and the community supported me. I did 700 films there.

Then I went to the South film industry and there I played the role of villains in Telugu films. There too I was a hit. So, my journey in the entertainment industry is also very interesting.  I also won the national award for a Bhojpuri film and also became a member of Parliament. I made my own home production called Mahadev Ka Gorakhpur. All my juniors who are working in that film industry, it is going to be a wakeup call for them that I too started from Bhojpuri film though recognition in the Hindi film industry came late, but it did come right?

OTT has given so many craftsmen, how much has the digital platform helped people around you who were struggling for years.?

 I am the zindaa (living) example. For 33 years I was fighting for my pehchaan (recognition). I created my own industry. I know you consider me as a brilliant artist that you always mention. But imagine, I was never given that opportunity in Bollywood. I thank God that Netflix came into our lives. And also Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao came to my life. So, Netflix made me feel alive.

In one night Netflix told the whole word, the global audience, that artists too can perform the way I act. This is also a form of art.

On cinema changing where every body’s role is important, say for instance the web series Mamla Legal Hai where even the monkey in the show had an important role to play. What do you have to say about this change?

Yes, look at the cast of the show. Every single person is important.  Itna aandhera ka duniya mein itna shandar actor (so many brilliant actors in this dark world) and such beautiful story tellers.