BJP Member of Parliament and Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari recently opened up about a now-viral moment from his election campaigning days. The incident, which left many social media users amused, was discussed by Tiwari himself during his appearance on the popular Netflix program, The Great Indian Kapil Show.
The Viral Clip and Kapil's Jibe
During the latest episode of the comedy talk show, host Kapil Sharma played the infamous video clip for the audience and the guest. In the video, a visibly confused and frustrated Tiwari is heard instructing his driver to turn the vehicle around during a political roadshow. Sharma, known for his witty humour, quipped, "Did you sit in the opposition's car or what?" This prompted Tiwari to finally clarify the context behind the chaotic scene that had captured the internet's imagination.
Tiwari's Explanation: A 'Political Game'
Setting the record straight, Manoj Tiwari described the entire episode as a "political game." He provided crucial details, stating that the incident occurred on the final day of his election campaign. "I wanted to end the road show. He (the driver) started driving away in the opposite direction," Tiwari explained to Kapil Sharma and the viewers.
The actor-politician revealed that after concluding his scheduled roadshow, he had an important meeting lined up with a member of the opposition to discuss a pressing matter. The driver's error in direction not only caused a significant delay but also added to Tiwari's stress. "I was stressed that people would be waiting for me. So, I wanted to complete all the road shows assigned to me," he added, justifying his agitated reaction in the video. Tiwari mentioned that he is frequently questioned about this viral moment wherever he goes, wryly referring to the episode as "political artistry."
From Bhojpuri Superstar to BJP Parliamentarian
Before his foray into politics, Manoj Tiwari was a colossal figure in the Bhojpuri entertainment industry. Renowned as a singer and actor, his fame in the early 2000s was such that a 2005 BBC report cited him and Ravi Kishan as the biggest stars of Bhojpuri cinema. At his peak, he commanded a fee of $90,000 (approximately over Rs 80 lakh today), rivalling the paychecks of major Bollywood stars at the time.
His contributions extend to Hindi mainstream cinema as well. He is fondly remembered for lending his voice to the iconic song "Jiya Tu Bihar Ke Lala" from Anurag Kashyap's 2012 cult classic, Gangs of Wasseypur. More recently, in 2024, he sang "Hind Ke Sitara" for the third season of Amazon Prime Video's hit show Panchayat. Tiwari also showcased his personality as a contestant on the reality TV show Bigg Boss 4 in 2010, hosted by Salman Khan.
On the political front, Tiwari has been campaigning for over 12 years. A former president of the Delhi BJP unit, he has served as the Member of Parliament from the North East Delhi constituency since 2014. His journey from the glitz of cinema to the grit of politics continues to be a subject of public fascination, with moments like the viral roadshow video adding a layer of relatable human drama to his profile.
