Manoj Tiwari is an Indian actor, singer, television personality who has predominantly worked in Bhojpuri films. Born on February 1973, he is one of the leading actors in Bhojpuri genre of Indian film industry and has acted in more than 40 films starting from 2004 to 2015. His debut movie was a smash hit and a turning point for the Bhojpuri cinema. A multi-talented personality, Manoj also involved himself in politics by contesting the 2009 national elections for the Samajwadi Party and winning the North East Delhi (Lok Sabha constituency) in the 2014 Indian general elections from BJP.
Early Life
Manoj also known as Mridul, was born in Bhumihar and his birthplace is Atarwalia, a small village in Kaimur district of Bihar. He was born to Chandra Deo Tiwari and Lalita Devi in 1973. He has five siblings.
Personal Life
He married his wife Rani in 1999 and divorced her in 2012. Together they have a daughter.
Career
As an actor
Manoj made his debut with the movie Sasura Bada Paisawala in 2004. The plot revolved around a boy marrying a girl against opposition from his family and relatives. The movie was a smash hit of the year and was considered as the turning point for Bhojpuri cinema by the Bihar Jharkhand Motion Picture Association. He followed the successful movie with Daroga Babu I Love You and Bandhan Tute Na, both setting the box-office on fire. In 2005, Manoj reportedly said, "Gone are the double entendres, thin story lines, and poor technical quality. Films have been slick and producers are willing to put in close to Rs 8 million in a film because the returns are not bad." As the Bhojpuri cinema market flourished, the BBC reported in the same year in 2005 that Tiwari and Ravi Kishan were the biggest male stars in the industry. Manoj starred in a string of successful movies which co-starred successful actors like Ajay Devgan and Mithun Chakraborty.
In Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke, which released in 2006, Manoj Tiwari starred along with Shrabani Mukherji and Ajay Devgan. The movie was a box office success and critics gave a positive review. The plot revolved around an emotional journey of Manoj's character, a college student, who dreams of becoming an IPS officer. In 2008, he starred in Bhole Shankar with Mithun Chakraborty, which is considered as the biggest opening for a Bhojpuri film. The story revolved around unemployment issues and the murky world of the underground mafia. The film received a phenomenal response from Non-Bhojpuri speaking audience and was the first movie to get a simultaneous release in overseas market like Nepal, Fiji, Mauritius, and Guiana. In 2007, he starred in Janam Janam Ke Saath directed again by Aslam Shekh. It also starred Ravi Kishan in the lead role.
Manoj then appeared in Devra Bhail Deewana with Pradeep Pandey "Chintu", Manoj Tiwari, Pakhi Hegde and Mona Lisa in the year 2014. The film revolved around two brothers and how they face misunderstanding between them. A year later in 2015, he acted in Andha Kanun and Yadav Ji Pan Wale starring in both, as a lead.
As a singer
Manoj started his career as a singer from the Sheetala Ghat and Mahavir Temple in Varanasi. He also sang the Bhojpuri version of 'Jabra' Fan song for Shah Rukh Khan's film FAN. Other than that, he sang four songs for his debut movie, Sasura Bada Paisawala in 2004, and they were, Hum Hayin Gaanv Ke Chora, "Ladki Hay Haayi Bholtejwali", "Mehri Aayi Rob Chalayi" and Tohra Bin Jee Naa Sakilen. Manoj regularly performs around the world in concerts and is listed as music director for multiple movies he starred in. One of his popular albums is Hey Mahadev, which released in 2009 and fused traditional music with contemporary genres. Some of his super hit songs also include, "Jiya Ho Bihar Ke Lala Jiya Tu Haazar Sala" in Anurag Kashyap's film Gangs of Wasseypur. He also sang for one of the highest grossing movies in Bhojpuri cinema, Bhole Shankar.
Television career
He started his first television program with Chak De Bachche in 2008 which earned him Indian Telly Award for Best Anchor/s. It was a reality show based on a hunt for a superstar pair comprising a child from a big city and one from a small town. He hosted the program with Roshni Chopra. He also hosted Sur Sangram (season 1 & 2), Nehle Pe Dehla and Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star (Season 2), because of his music background. In 2010, he appeared as himself in the reality series, Big Boss 4, a reality show where contestants are locked in a common house. Another reality show, in Welcome - Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki, an Indian version of Come Dine With Me, Manoj was himself in the show where a group of six contestants acts as host, and cook a three-course meal for the remaining five contestants.