General secretary of Ravi Kissen Fans’ Club Neeraj Pandey pours milk on the actor’s poster outside Veena in Patna on Friday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Sept. 16: Bhojpuri and Bollywood star Ravi Kissen seems to be emerging as the Rajinikanth of eastern India. Over 500 of his fans gathered at Veena cinema today and poured 50 litres of cow milk on his six-foot-tall poster on the occasion of the release of his new film Faulaad, directed by Firoz Khan.

Usually such diehard fans can be seen in south India, where they worship their favourite actors and actresses. However, this trend has caught up in the Bhojpuri industry also where stars are being worshipped like gods.

Ravi Kissen Fans’ Club organised a special puja at Mahavir Temple near Patna Junction before marching towards the cinema where his film released.

Though Ravi could not come to attend it his absence was compensated by his fans. “Recently, his domestic help has committed suicide by jumping off the roof of his apartment and he may be in mental trauma but we do not mind. He is always there with us and today, we have gathered to pray for his new film which has been released in 22 districts of Bihar,” said Neeraj Pandey, general secretary of Ravi Kissen Fans’ Club.

Thirty kilograms of motichur laddoo were distributed among those who came to catch the first day, first show. “First, we organised a special puja for the success of his new film. Lord Hanuman is the strongest and he can do anything. We are sure that this film will be a hit in all the districts but it was important to take the blessing of Hanumanji,” added Pandey. The film, inspired by the issue of corruption, has Ravi playing the lead and is shown fighting against the corrupt system.

On being contacted over phone, Ravi said from Mumbai: “I am privileged that my fans are giving me so much love and respect. Only because of them I have reached this level. Without their support and blessing, it would not be possible for me to rise an inch. I do not compare myself with the great south Indian star Rajinikanth, whom I have always seen as my inspiration. It’s the madness of my fans who have compared me with Rajinikanth.”