Bollywood has always had a fascinating, flirtatious relationship with Bhojpuri music. Whether it is the frantic rhythms of “Aayi Nai” in Stree 2 or the gritty, atmospheric folk of “Jiya Tu Bihar Ke Lala” in Gangs of Wasseypur, the Hindi film industry regularly leans on the raw energy of the region to deliver mass-pleasing tracks.
The latest addition to this crossover trend is Akshay Kumar’s completely unhinged Bhojpuri avatar in “Ghis Ghis Ghis”, a newly dropped track from his upcoming comedy ensemble Welcome to the Jungle.
Featuring Bhojpuri cinema’s leading actress-singer Akshara Singh alongside Kumar, the song embraces full-blown festive madness. Composed by Vikram Montrose with comical, over-the-top lyrics by Abhinav Shekhar (such as “Mathva pe hathva se ghis ke subuniya”), the music video functions as a playful “film-within-a-film” spoof of traditional regional cinema.
However, Bollywood’s connection to the Bhojpuri industry goes far deeper than just dance numbers. Over the last two decades, some of Indian cinema’s most iconic legends have crossed over to headline full-length Bhojpuri feature films.
1. The Bachchan Legacy: Ganga (2006) & Gangotri (2007)
Perhaps the most monumental crossover occurred when Megastar Amitabh Bachchan stepped into the regional space. Driven by his close relationship with his long-time makeup artist and producer Deepak Sawant, Bachchan brought immense mainstream credibility to Kollywood.
- The Plot: Ganga revolves around a young village woman deeply in love with a man named Shankar (played by Bhojpuri superstar Ravi Kishan). The central conflict erupts when the powerful and influential landlord Thakur Vijay Singh (portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan) uses his immense societal muscle to forcefully arrange her marriage to his own son, Ranjit.
- The Scale: The film was anchored heavily in rural politics, class divides, and structural power dynamics. To make the project an absolute powerhouse, the makers also cast Hema Malini and Nagma in pivotal roles. The massive commercial success of Ganga immediately paved the way for its 2007 sequel, Gangotri.
2. Jaya Bachchan’s Political Venture: Ganga Devi (2012)
Not to be left behind, Jaya Bachchan also explored the storytelling depth of Bhojpuri cinema a few years later. She took on a lead role in the 2012 drama Ganga Devi, a project that once again united top-tier talent under Deepak Sawant’s production banner.
Ganga Devi stood out from typical regional masala projects by focusing entirely on the complex machinery of Indian politics and how institutional corruption trickles down to break apart family relationships.
The film featured Jaya Bachchan alongside Amitabh Bachchan, veteran actor Gulshan Grover, and Bhojpuri icon Dinesh Lal Yadav (Nirahua). The veteran real-life couple played the role of protective parents guiding Nirahua’s character through a treacherous political landscape.
3. High-Octane Star Power: From Mithun to Ajay Devgn
During the mid-to-late 2000s, Bhojpuri cinema experienced a massive golden era of mainstream collaboration. A checklist of India’s most recognizable action heroes and veterans took turns anchoring regional scripts:
| Actor | Bhojpuri Film | Year | Core Theme & Narrative | Notable Co-Stars |
| Ajay Devgn | Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke | 2006 | Defending a small village against a muscle-flexing, corrupt villain. | Manoj Tiwari, Sharbani Mukherjee |
| Mithun Chakraborty | Bhole Shankar | 2008 | Social commentary on unemployment pushing honest brothers into the underworld. | Manoj Tiwari, Lovy Rohtagi |
| Jackie Shroff | Balidaan | 2009 | Patriotism, relentless revenge, and an aggressive fight against systemic oppression. | Ravi Kishan, Antara Biswas |
| Dharmendra | Desh Pardesh | 2013 | An emotional family drama targeting the abandonment of aging parents by NRI children. | Pawan Singh, Rati Agnihotri, Kader Khan |
Looking Ahead: Welcome to the Jungle
While those earlier projects were dramatic, high-stakes narratives, Akshay Kumar’s upcoming film Welcome to the Jungle is taking a strictly comedic route. Directed by Ahmed Khan and produced by Firoz A. Nadiadwallah, the massive ensemble film features Suniel Shetty, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Johny Lever, and Rajpal Yadav.
With “Ghis Ghis Ghis” already generating massive conversational blockbusters online for its chaotic energy, the film is securely positioned to tap into a massive multi-regional audience base when it hits theaters on June 26, 2026.