Ravi Kissen at the news conference at Hotel Chanakya in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 16: Bhojpuri superstar Ravi Kissen has placed a demand to chief minister Nitish Kumar to set up a film studio in Patna for shoots in the state.

He was speaking exclusively to The Telegraph on the sidelines of a programme organised by Dabur Chyawanprash in the state capital today.

Ravi said: “Bihar has so much potential to create film shoot infrastructure here which, in turn, can generate plenty of jobs. People like Shatrughan Sinha, Manoj Bajpai, Shekhar Suman, and Prakash Jha are some of the Bollywood actors and filmmakers who are ready to extend help to the state government to develop the film studio.”

He added: “The climate has changed in Bihar, the kind of effort Nitish Kumar has taken to make this state a developed one is commendable. He has taken all appropriate measures in all fields but this (film studio) is one which needs to be addressed on an urgent basis. Most the Bhojpuri artistes have to go outside the state to shoot the film because there is no proper place here. If the state government builds infrastructure here, then there would be no need to go elsewhere.”

“I have personally requested Nitishji to set up a film city in the state,” stressed Ravi.

On a previous occasion, principal secretary, art culture and youth affairs, K.P. Ramaiya, had said that the state government is serious about setting up a film city in Patna.”

On the issue of developing Bihar further, Ravi said: “Next year Bihar will celebrate 100 years of its foundation and if the proposal of setting up the film city is made this year, then it would be a big gift for Bhojpuri artistes like us. I can give my word to Nitishji if it (the film city) comes up here, I will personally bring producers and directors to shoot films in Bihar. This state has given me a lot and now it’s my turn to give something in return. I personally feel that I owe something to this state.”

“Frankly speaking, I keep roaming the world and I feel that Bihar has changed a lot. Earlier, we were scared to hold any stage show in Bihar because there was a feeling of insecurity among artistes. But the scenario has completely changed, now the trend of Bollywood stars coming to Patna and holding press conferences has caught on. Previously, no one used to come here. Big stars are coming to the capital to promote films. All this shows that Bihar has undergone, Nitishji has managed to control crime,” stressed Ravi.

Talking about the popularity of Bhojpuri cinema, he said: “It is no longer confined to villages. For the first time in the history of Bhojpuri cinema, my film Satyamev Jayate will be releasing in Fiji, Mauritius, Tridand and Surinam next week.”