Khesari Lal Yadav: The steep price of being a viral Bhojpuri star in Bihar polls – 'vulgarity' label

Bhojpuri actor and singer Khesari Lal Yadav with Tejashwi Yadav

Popular Bhojpuri actor-singer Khesari Lal Yadav is set to make a much-touted electoral debut in the upcoming Bihar assembly election on an RJD ticket amid allegations that he is being fielded due to lack of options.

Khesari, whose real name is Shatrughan Kumar Yadav, drew a rousing reception in Chhapra, the seat he is contesting, signalling his growing appeal in the region. In a viral video, his supporters were purportedly seen pouring milk on him from a huge container and then weighing him with coins.

However, Khesari's opponents have sought to discredit the Bhojpuri singer ahead of the polls by describing him as a “dancer” and criticising his “vulgar” songs.

Bihar deputy chief minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary casually dismissed the Bhojpuri actor a “dancer” during campaigning for his party’s candidate Chhoti Kumari. “They have sent Khesari Lal here as all their previous candidates lost… CN Gupta defeated them,” he said. “With no candidate left, this dancer has been sent here. Please vote for our sister Chhoti Kumari if you want 'sushasan' (good governance) in Bihar.”

Meanwhile, BJP MP Ravi Kishan, also a famous Bhojpuri actor, took a dig at Khesari by saying that “some people have sold out Bhojpuri”. Kishan told The Week that everything in Bhojpuri cinema was now “sanatan”. “Where my films used to celebrate silver jubilees in Chhapra and throughout Bihar, there's not a single audience there today. Who is the reason for that? Who defamed Bhojpuri?” Kishan questioned. The remarks were seen as an indirect attack on Khesari Lal Yadav.

Though wildly popular in Bhojpuri cinema, Khesari — who hails from humble beginnings — faces a tough challenge proving his political mettle after earning fame as a folk and film celebrity. Following in the footsteps of stars like Ravi Kishan and Manoj Tiwari, he is also trying to shed the “ashleelta” tag often associated with certain sections of the Bhojpuri industry, where vulgarity has increasingly seeped into music and cinema in recent years.

Meanwhile, Khesari has countered these political attacks by admitting that his "vulgar songs" were a mistake he made in his career. Taking a dig at his opponents, Khesari pointed out that his “vulgar” songs did not cause water logging or ruin the education system and hospital infrastructure.

"As a musician, I don't feel bad at all. There is nothing wrong with music. I did that for the entertainment of people. I did not understand much. But that is music, and this is development. Chhapra is not facing water logging due to my vulgar songs. Is the education system broken due to my vulgar songs? Is the condition of hospitals dismal because of my vulgar songs? This is a different subject, and my songs are a different subject,” he told NDTV earlier.

He also said, “entertainment isn't a crime”.

Who is Khesari Lal Yadav?

Khesari (39), who was born in Chhapra, had a humble beginning. According to his affidavit, his father, Mangaru Yadav, once worked as a street vendor in the mornings and a security guard at night. In his childhood, Khesari used to graze cattle and sell milk in their village.

Later his family moved to Delhi and sold the popular Bihari delicacy litti-chokha.

Khesari began his musical journey in the late 2000s before making his acting debut in Saajan Chale Sasural (2011), which catapulted him into stardom. According to reports, he has acted in over 70 films, including one Bollywood project, and lent his voice to more than 5,000 songs across Bhojpuri, Hindi, Awadhi, and Haryanvi languages.

According to his affidavit, he owns movable assets worth Rs 16.89 crore and immovable properties worth Rs 7.91 crore. Meanwhile, his wife, Chanda Yadav, owns movable assets of Rs 90.02 lakh and immovable properties worth Rs 6.49 crore

The Chapra seat in Saran district will vote on November 6. It has been traditionally dominated by Yadavs and Rajputs and has a significant chunk of voters from the Vaishya and Muslim communities.
The seat was also represented by RJD chief Lalu Prasad four times between 1977 and 2009.

With Khesari’s Bhojpuri fan base and popular appeal among youth and migrant workers, the RJD hopes Yadav woo voters in one of Bihar’s most significant districts.