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The Times of India
The Times of India
Entertainment
TOI Entertainment Desk | etimes.in

Ravi Kishan recalls time father was going to kill him for playing role of Sita in 'Ramleela'; says 'Mom asked me to run away’

Actor and politician Ravi Kishan made some shocking revelations about his traumatic childhood experiences. The star, in a recent interview, recalled a harrowing near-death experience at the hands of his father for taking on the role of Sita in a local performance.

Recalling the past incident, Kishan said in a chat with Shubhankar Mishra that his passion for acting began during his teenage years at just 14 or 15 years, when he participated in the Ramleela play and often portrayed the role of Sita. However, things quickly went south when his father got to know about the role he was playing.

Opening up about that traumatic day, he shared that he had taken out his mom's saree to rehearse his lines with his friends. On his return home, his furious father, "beat me with a leather belt." He went on to share, "The whipping was so severe that my skin nearly tore. It felt like he had decided to silence me that night."

Fearing for his safety, Ravi said that his mother gave him Rs 500 and told him to leave the village. "That night, my mother thought he would kill me. She handed me Rs 500 and said, ‘Take the train and leave, or he’ll kill you. You run away.’ That’s how I ended up in Mumbai at such a young age,” the actor recalled.

Years down the line, Kishan carved a niche for himself in the entertainment industry and later transitioned into politics. His recent film, 'Laapataa Ladies', was even selected as India’s official entry for the 2025 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature category. While the film did not make it to the Oscars shortlist, it has won appreciation on the global stage.

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