'Nagma and I make a good pair'

'Nagma and I make a good pair'

Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, November 9, 2006

Bhojpuri superstar Ravi Kishan is the highest-paid participant on Sony TV's new show Bigg Boss and says he is "participating to detoxifying myself".

Bigg Boss is a reality show with 13 celebrities living together in a house for three months. Every week, one person who is unable to adjust, would be voted out.

And Ravi is determined to win. Just before he left for the outskirts of Mumbai to stay in seclusion for the show, Ravi told IANS: "I'm participating with the purpose of detoxifying myself. I've been working non-stop for the past three years. I need to rest my body and brain. I intend to do exactly that.

"I'm not used to a life without newspapers, television or mobile phone. And I'll be expected to cook my own food. Sounds like fun."

Ravi Kishen and Nagma's Bhojpuri film Ganga released last month.

Ravi intends to remain isolated from the rest of the group. "I don't know the others, and that's the way I like it. There will be cameras trailing me everywhere except the rest room. I'll spend my time praying and generally introspecting about all the turbulence I've gone through in my personal life recently." Ravi quickly wrapped up his latest Bhojpuri film Saiyyan Hamar Hindustani with TV star Shweta Tiwari to be completely free for 13 weeks.

"The show is watched in 156 countries. It has now come to India. I'm very excited about being part of it. People can watch me on television one hour every day or on the Internet round the clock," said Ravi.

He's also excited about his recently released film Ganga, where he shares screen space with Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, and is eagerly awaiting Saira Banu's Ab To Banja Sajanwa Hamar, in which he pairs with Nagma.

"It was the proudest moment of my life when Mr. Bachchan called me a 'mahanayak' (superhero) at the music release of Ganga and when the thespian Mr. Dilip Kumar told me I made him cry with my performance in their home production."

Ravi's relationship with his co-star Nagma has been called off but he says it will not affect their professional life.

"We'll continue to work together. We're an inseparable pair in Bhojpuri films. I'll always wish her well. And yes, I need to do Bigg Boss to sort things out in my head."