I am happy that the village belle Sita is now the new star on the horizon

In the Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh is a small village Vasui. In this village with 500 people was another house among the other katchha pukka houses. The house belonged to my father Shyamnarayan Shukl and mother Shrimati Jadavati Devi, and the place from where I saw the world for the first time. I started to walk among the temple bells tolling and Har Har Mahadev being chanted. Apart from my parents, I also had two brothers and a sister whose fingers I’d hold and learnt to walk, learned to jump on their laps, and who showed me the way and I walked on it. The journey continues. I have a lot of memories from my childhood, and my father’s teachings still ring in my ears.
I still remember the day when I saw a shav-yatra and asked my father what it was. He said, “It is the biggest truth of life. One day everyone has to leave this world and the only thing that remains is your good karma.” I am still trying to live by what he said. Despite being from a priest’s family and a humble background, I always dreamed big. I’d think of becoming a pilot when I saw an airplane. Seeing the clout policemen enjoyed, I’d think may be that was the better bet. When Id’ hear people praising Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, I’d think of becoming a cricketer. But one thing I had decided – I would do something that would make my family and my village proud of me. When I grew up a little more, I got to play the role of Sita in a school play. People praised my acting. This is from when I’d seen several movie posters in the town. When people praised me I realized I had come to the world to become an actor. So I went about trying to hone my acting skills and was a big fan of Mithun Chakravarti back then. When I turned into a young man, I also saw his reflection in myself. I’d love to hear it when my friends said I resembled Mithun da.
I completed my studies and came to Mumbai, the city of dreams. Several of my relatives live here. I got into the struggle phase of making it in the industry. To eat I sold newspapers, worked at a video library but continued to struggle. And like they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way. I was in front of the camera for the first time for Hindi movie called “Udhar ki zindagi” and I was sharing screen space with Jeetendra ji. I was scared and petrified. Jeetandra ji asked me if this was my first movie. When I nodded, he told me to forget that and feel that I have done a lot of work before. I kept it in mind and completed the entire shot in one take. But the struggle after the movie increased since I had appeared on the screen. TV hadn’t caught on or it would’ve been easier to find a job. The only medium available to act was cinema. I did a lot of movies after this but I made a place for myself with the movie “Army”, where I was seen with Shah Rukh Khan and Sri Devi. I was doing small-bit roles when I got an offer for a Bhojpuri movie. I was happy since my parents speak to me in the same language. The movie was “Saiyan hamar” and the director was Mohanji Prasad. I also knew that Bhojpuri movies were rarely being made but something told me that this movie would change all that. The movie was a hit. Immediately after that, I starred in movies such as “ganga jaisan mai hamar”, “Pandit ji batai na biyah kab hoi” and “Kanya daan” and people gave me the title of a superstar. I also got an offer for TV show “Bigg boss” during that time. I decided to take part in it and publicise Bhojpuri in every way I could. I was appreciated for the same and honestly, it raised my and Bhojpuri industry’s stature.
Then came the day when the mahanayak of the century Amitabh Bachhan also acted in Bhojpuri movies and during a movie release, gave me the title of mahanayak of Bhojpuri movies. I had tears in my eyes then. These words from Amitabh’s mouth filled me with a new power. Now when I work with big directors such as Shyam Benegal and Mani Ratnam, I am convinced that all you need is the will and you can get anything in the world and have the support of the right kind of people. It’s raining movies for me today – Hindi, Bhojpuri, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu. I have lakhs of fans all over the world. Production houses where I’d have to wait for hours now wait for me.
I am happy that despite being in Mumbai I am still attached to my village. I am in touch with all big and small news and even if a cow has given birth. I am happy that Sita from the villages has not become a new star on the horizon. Today Preeti Kishan is not only my wife but my guide, too. My children continually inspire me to achieve greater heights. When my father says, “Beta, tanik u kaam kar de,” I feel I have lived my life well. My mother has still saved that Rs 60 sari I had bought for her from my first earnings. I am proud of my society – Jai Bhojpuri.