Ravi Kishan has come a long way from the time when his career was synonymous with his on-screen histrionics, Bhojpuri films and his massive frame. Open Instagram today and you might find him dancing, making a dramatic face, saying something you’d never expect him to, or being the latest victim of a meme.
The actor-politician is right in the middle of a social media storm, with old interviews and new clips of him finding their way into reels and memes. And the fun part is Ravi Kishan doesn’t seem to be fighting it. In fact, he has been thanking Gen Z for appreciating him and his creative energy.
The actor’s dance moves have a life of their own
Ravi Kishan’s “Gucci” dance moves are now a major part of this whole online phenomenon. Clips of his energetic steps, complete with his signature expressions, are being chopped up, remixed and remade into something new.
He recently recreated one of his own viral steps in a street when paparazzi surrounded him. It wasn’t long before Mirzapur co-stars Ali Fazal and Divyendu Sharma caught up with him to recreate the dance step behind him. When Kishan spotted them he joined in, elevating an already hilarious moment into yet another viral meme opportunity.
This is exactly the kind of content that works on Instagram. It’s bite-sized, unexpected and almost impossible to scroll past just once.
“Jaldi The Late” to “ Home From Work” to “Money Follows”
Ravi Kishan memes go beyond just dancing.
A number of his bizarre statements and interview moments have also now become memes in their own right. His “money follows my brother” quote from an interview with Raj Shamani went viral as a meme, while his “Jaldi the Late” one-liner has been given a second lease of life online.
Then, of course, there are the expressions. A single Ravi Kishan reaction from an interview or live interaction can now be pulled out of its original context and turned into a GIF, meme or relatable reel.
What Makes Gen Z So Invested In Him?
Maybe because Ravi Kishan doesn’t seem to be trying too hard to be a meme.
His expressions are over-the-top, his energy is unabashed, and his delivery is often delightfully melodramatic. In a social media environment full of polished celebrity posts, that “unfiltered” aspect is kind of endearing.
It also feels very familiar to a lot of internet users. The internet isn’t laughing at Ravi Kishan as much as they are enjoying his energy and using his clips to represent their own moods.
The actor himself has stated that he thinks Gen Z audiences are able to relate to him because of his imperfections. He has also been extremely vocal about embracing the memes rather than taking offence to them.
The Ravi Kishan comeback that wasn’t meant to happen
What makes it all so interesting is that this isn’t really your conventional celebrity comeback either. There is no masterminded PR plan for every viral moment. Old clips are resurfacing and getting equal traction as new ones, and social media users are remixing the videos in their own way.
Then of course, his upcoming film Mirzapur: The Movie is also coming up as another excuse to keep tabs on him, but Ravi Kishan’s meme popularity has developed its own identity already.
For someone who has been entertaining audiences for decades on and off screen, Ravi Kishan’s most recent fans are probably his most unexpected yet. Gen Z didn’t discover a new Ravi Kishan. They simply discovered the version of him the internet finds impossible to ignore.
