Aamrapali Dubey reveals how Ravi Kishan-Manoj Tiwari rivalry halted 'Ganga Jamuna Saraswati' shoot 6 hours
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bhojpuri actress Aamrapali Dubey served up a hilarious backstage tale on Bigg Boss 20, recounting how a simmering on-screen rivalry between Ravi Kishan and Manoj Tiwari brought the shoot of the 2012 Bhojpuri action-drama Ganga Jamuna Saraswati to a standstill for nearly six hours. The stalemate, she said, centred on one deceptively simple question: who would throw the first punch?
The Six-Hour Standstill
According to Aamrapali, the impasse erupted during the filming of a fight sequence between the two leading men. Manoj Tiwari, who played Inspector Ganga Singh in the film, argued that since his character had come to arrest Ravi Kishan's character, the police should logically land the first blow. Ravi Kishan, playing Jamuna Prasad, pushed back hard, insisting that his character's dominance had already been established in the preceding dialogue.
'Manoj bhaiya said that the police has come to pick him up. So the police will hit first. And Ravi bhaiya said that when it has already been established in the previous dialogue that 'this is my area', then how will anyone hit me?' Aamrapali recalled, to laughter from her fellow contestants.
Nirahua Steps In as Peacemaker
With the crew stuck and the clock ticking, Dinesh Lal Yadav — popularly known as Nirahua — stepped in with a creative workaround. He suggested that both actors raise their fists simultaneously while he physically walked between them to intercept the blow.
'Dinesh ji said that Manoj and Ravi, both of you pick up the punch to hit each other. And till then I will come in between to save you,' Aamrapali narrated. After almost six hours, the team finally agreed: Dinesh Lal Yadav's character would absorb the first punch, after which the fight could proceed.
'After six hours, it was finally decided that Dinesh ji will get the first punch and then the fight will start. Otherwise the shoot will not go on,' she said.
About the Film
Ganga Jamuna Saraswati, directed by Harry Fernandes and released in 2012, featured Ravi Kishan as Jamuna Prasad, Manoj Tiwari as Inspector Ganga Singh, and Dinesh Lal Yadav as Saraswatichandra. The cast also included Rani Chatterjee, Pakhi Hegde, and Rinku Ghosh. The film remains a milestone in the Bhojpuri action genre, featuring three of the industry's most prominent male stars in a single production.
The Bigg Boss 20 Moment
The anecdote emerged during an informal chat among contestants on Bigg Boss 20, with Aamrapali framing it light-heartedly: 'I'll tell you a story. You all will go crazy laughing.' The episode has since drawn attention online, offering fans a rare candid glimpse into the competitive dynamics behind Bhojpuri cinema's golden-era sets. It also underscores how star ego — even in good humour — can shape production logistics in unexpected ways.