Dussehra stages across north India usually belong to local performers, but this year one of them had a familiar face from films and politics in the central role. Ravi Kishan, the actor and BJP MP from Gorakhpur, stepped out as Lord Rama for the first time at Delhi’s Ayodhya Ki Ramleela.
The moment was years in the making. Kishan told reporters at the venue that, as a child, he had played Parshuram, Kevat and even Mata Sita. Lord Rama, he said, was the role he had not taken on until now, and he hoped to do justice to it with the deity’s blessings. The actor has long balanced cinema and politics, and the appearance came at a time when clips from such stages travel quickly online.
A grand entry, and a message for young fans
Videos from the evening showed the actor arriving in a decorated chariot and then walking into the performance. Speaking to the media, he said the choice was made with his younger fans in mind.
“I urge the youth to read about Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva. Whenever you face depression or difficulties in life, spirituality helps us overcome them,” Ravi Kishan said.
His advice came with a simple daily habit: set aside at least half an hour for meditation. In his telling, Sanatan traditions, culture and religion are not just festive rituals but ways to build the strength to handle tough phases.
Why the stage matters
Kishan sits at an unusual intersection. For film audiences he is a character actor who can swing between comedy and menace. For voters he is the sitting MP from Gorakhpur. A Ramleela appearance brings those identities together on a spiritual, cultural platform during one of India’s biggest festival weeks.
He is not the only screen face in a Ramleela role this season. The same report notes that Gaurav Khanna appeared as Lord Rama at Agra’s Janakpuri Mahotsava 2026, while Shilpa Shinde played Sita at a Delhi Ramlila. The pattern suggests large Ramleelas are increasingly leaning on celebrity casting to draw wider, younger audiences.
What’s next for Ravi Kishan
- He was last seen in Mirzapur: The Film, which earned over ₹300 crore worldwide at the box office.
- His next film is Khosla Ka Ghosla 2, a sequel to the 2006 original.
- The film is scheduled to release in theatres on March 5, 2027.
The reaction to Mirzapur: The Film gives him solid box-office momentum, so a March 2027 release date for the Khosla Ka Ghosla sequel is worth marking. For celebrity-watchers, the Ramleela turn is a different kind of appearance: a public figure speaking less about policy or a film, and more about personal practice and resilience.
Source: Hindustan Times
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