Dinesh Lal Yadav
Dinesh Lal Yadav, popularly known as Nirahua, is an Indian actor, singer, producer and politician who works in Bhojpuri-language films. He is among the most successful Bhojpuri actors, with several consecutive box-office successes in 2015. He owns the production house Nirahua Entertainment Pvt Ltd. Dinesh Lal Yadav was a contestant on Bigg Boss 6 in 2012.
Nirahua was a member of parliament from Azamgarh Lok Sabha constituency as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2022 till 2024. Coming from a family of traditional Biraha singers of Ghazipur, he began his career as a folk singer with the album Nirahua Satal Rahe, which became a major hit and earned him the stage name "Nirahua". He made his film debut in the Bhojpuri drama Humka Aisa Waisa Na Samjha and gained wider fame with Chalat Mushafir Moh Liyo Re, Nirahua Rikshaw Wala and Pratigya.
In 2012, he appeared with Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan in Ganga Devi and also participated in Bigg Boss 6 that year. His fiftieth film, Nirahua Hindustani, was a commercial success that reached multiplex audiences. He later starred in patriotic films such as Patna Se Pakistan and Border, two of the highest-grossing Bhojpuri films. His Nirahua Chalal London was shot in London, and in 2019 he made his OTT debut in the Bhojpuri web series Hero Vardiwala.
Early life
Nirahua was born to Kumar Yadav and Chandrajyoti Yadav. He has a brother, Pravesh Lal Yadav, and a sister, Lalita Yadav.He spent most of his childhood days in "Belghoria" at 4 no. railway gate area of Kolkata where his father worked in a factory. He completed his education in the same suburbs of Kolkata.
He comes from a family of famous Biraha folk singers hailing from Ghazipur. Famous Biraha singer Vijay Lal Yadav known as "Biraha Samrat" and writer and lyricist Pyare Lal Yadav who has penned many songs in Bhojpuri cinema, are his first cousins.
Acting career
Early hits and establishment (2006–2011)
He started his acting career with the Bhojpuri film Humka Aisa Waisa Na Samjha in 2006 in which he played the role of a boy who fights to make Bhojpuri a recognised language in the state. But his first released movie was Chalat Musafir Moh Liyo Re in which he played the supporting role of a police inspector with Kalpana Patowary and Sunil Chhaila Bihari. His third film was Ho Gail Ba Pyar Odhaniya Waali Se. After this film, he received many offers. His next film Nirahua Rikshawala became a super hit. After the success of his another film titled Kahan Jaiba Raja Najariya Ladaike, he was an established actor in the industry and had got the title "Jublee Star". His another hit movie in 2008 was Lagal Raha Ae Rajaji. His natural acting style, slim body unlike other Bhojpuri actor those days, and action moves due to his Karate training in his childhood, made him so popular among the audience that even his flop films used to run over three weeks. He also did stage shows in Fiji, Australia and New Zealand in 2007.He continued giving hits likes Pratigya, Pariwaar, Nirahua No. 1, Saat Saheliyan, Nirahua Chalal Sasural. In a review of his film Aulaad, Times of India wrote that "Dinesh Lal Yadav has live up his role".
TV debut and high budget films (2012–2018)
In 2012, he appeared in the Bigg Boss as a contestant. His film Ganga Jamuna Saraswati earned 1.25 crores in just three weeks which highest by any Bhojpuri movie in those times. He acted with Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Gulshan Grover in the Bhojpuri film Ganga Devi. His fiftieth project Nirahua Hindustani reached multiplexes. Another of his hit movies was Patna Se Pakistan. In 2016, he received Uttar Pradesh's highest civilian award "Yash Bharti Samman Award" by the Uttar Pradesh Government for this contribution in Bhojpuri films.Bam Bam Bol Raha Hai Kashi was produced by Priyanka Chopra. Nirahua Hindustani 2 won eleven awards at Sabrang Film Awards. His Kashi Amarnath was another movie that was produced by Priyanka Chopra. Grossing 19 crores, his patriotic film Border is one of the highest earning Bhojpuri films ever.
OTT debut and other films (2019–present)
In made his OTT debut in 2019 with Hero Vardiwala, which was the first webseries ever made in Bhojpuri language. He released his first short film Kukkur in 2021 which was based on the plight of elderly people in old-age homes. On 10 December 2021, his film Hum Hain Dulha Hindustani released, which was a Romantic comedy film starring Amrapali Dubey and Madhu Sharma. This was Nirahua's second film that was shot in London after Nirahua Chalal London. On 1 January 2022, he released his next short film Dahar. He played the role of a Launda in his next film "Naach Baiju Naach" which was released in September.Political career
Nirahua joined politics by becoming a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Lucknow on 27 March 2019 in presence of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. On 3 April 2019 he was declared a candidate to contest the 2019 Indian Lok Sabha election from Azamgarh constituency from Bharatiya Janata Party. He unsuccessfully faced Akhilesh Yadav, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. He lost against Akhilesh Yadav by a margin of 259,874 votes.In 2022 bypolls from Azamgarh constituency, he defeated Samajwadi Party candidate Dharmendra Yadav by a margin of 8,700 votes.
Controversy
In 2025, he criticized fellow Bhojpuri actor Khesari Lal Yadav, over remarks regarding the Ram Mandir, referring to him as "Yadumulla", which sparked controversy over caste and communal remarks. He further claimed, as reported by The Economic Times, "true Yadavs proudly stand with Lord Ram and the NDA's development agenda".Personal life
He married Mansha Yadav in the year 2000. The couple has two sons - Aditya Yadav, Amit Yadav and one daughter- Aditi Yadav.Yadav is also rumoured to be simultaneously married to co-actor Amrapali Dubey.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Film | Role | Co-star | References |
| 2006 | Humka Aisa Waisa Na Samjha | |||
| 2006 | Chalat Musafir Moh Liyo Re | Nirahua | Kalpana Patowary | |
| 2007 | Ho Gail Ba Pyar Odhaniya Wali se | |||
| 2007 | Bidesiya | Sanehi | ||
| 2008 | Nirahuwa Rikshaw Wala | Nirahua | Pakkhi Hegde | |
| 2008 | Pratigya | Suraj | Pakkhi Hegde | |
| 2008 | Pariwar | Kishan | Pakkhi Hegde | |
| 2008 | Ho Gaini Deewana Tohra Pyar Me | Monalisa | ||
| 2008 | Lagal Raha Ae Rajaji | |||
| 2008 | Vidhata | Kishan | Ravi Kishan | |
| 2008 | Chalani Ke Chalal Dulha | Special appearance | Pravesh Lal Yadav | |
| 2008 | Kahan Jaiba Raja Nazariya Ladaike | Raja | Monalisa | |
| 2008 | Rang De Basanti Chola | Pakkhi Hegde, Anand Mohan | ||
| 2009 | Khiladi No. 1 | Pakkhi Hegde | ||
| 2009 | Rangeela Babu | Awdhesh Mishra, Manoj Tiger | ||
| 2009 | Nirahua No. 1 | Nirahua | Pakkhi Hegde | |
| 2010 | Shiva | Shiva | Pakkhi Hegde | |
| 2010 | Saat Saheliyan | Nirahua | Pakkhi Hegde | |
| 2010 | Aaj Ke Karan Arjun | Pakkhi Hegde, Pravesh Lal Yadav | ||
| 2010 | Dil | Chitrus | Pakkhi Hegde, Pravesh Lal Yadav | |
| 2011 | Dushmani | Viraj Bhatt, Pakkhi Hegde | ||
| 2011 | Aulaad | Radhe | Subhi Sharma | |
| 2011 | Nirahua Chalal Sasural | Nirahua | Pakkhi Hegde | |
| 2011 | Nirahua Mail | Nirahua | Pakkhi Hegde, Awdhesh Mishra | |
| 2012 | Ganga Jamuna Saraswati | Saraswati | Rani Chatterjee, Pakkhi Hegde, Rinku Ghosh | |
| 2012 | Ganga Devi | Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Pakhi Hegde | ||
| 2013 | Rakhwala | Satyaprakash/Sarfaraj | Rinku Ghosh | |
| 2013 | Ek Duje Ke Liye | Raj/Raju | Madhu Sharma | |
| 2014 | Nirahua Banal Don | Nirahua | Vijay Lal Yadav | |
| 2014 | Nirahua Hindustani | Nirahua | Amrapali Dubey | |
| 2014 | Hathkadi | Jailer Shakti Singh | Khesari Lal Yadav, Anjana Singh | Dubbed in Hindi as Nirahua Most Wanted |
| 2015 | Patna Se Pakistan | Kabir | Amrapali Dubey, Kajal Raghwani | |
| 2015 | Nirahua Rickshawala 2 | Aaditya/Nirahua | Amrapali Dubey | |
| 2015 | Raja Babu | Vicky/Raja Babu | Amrapali Dubey, Monalisa | |
| 2015 | Biwi No.1 | Anand | Monalisa, Apurva Bit | |
| 2015 | Jigarwala | Rahul | Amrapali Dubey | |
| 2015 | Ghulami | Abhimanyu | Madhu Sharma, Shubhi Sharma | |
| 2016 | Aashik Aawara | Raja/Deepak | Amrapali Dubey, Kajal Raghwani | |
| 2016 | Bam Bam Bol Raha Hai Kashi | Kashi | Amrapali Dubey | |
| 2016 | Nirahua Chalal Sasural 2 | Nirahua | Amrapali Dubey | |
| 2016 | Aakhiri Rasta | Rinku Ghosh | ||
| 2016 | Ram Lakhan | Ram Yadav | Amrapali Dubey, Shubhi Sharma | |
| 2016 | Mokama 0 K.M. | Amrapali Dubey, Anjana Singh | ||
| 2017 | Nirahu Satal Rahe | Nirahua | Amrapali Dubey | |
| 2017 | Jigar | Deva | Anjana Singh | |
| 2017 | Sipahi | Amrapali Dubey | ||
| 2017 | Nirahua Hindustani 2 | Nirahu Yadav | Amrapali Dubey | |
| 2017 | Kashi Amarnath | Kashi | Amrapali Dubey | |
| 2018 | Saugandh | Raju | Mani Bhattacharya | |
| 2018 | Border | Abhay Shashtri | Amrapali Dubey | |
| 2018 | Nirahua Hindustani 3 | Nirahua | Amrapali Dubey, Shubhi Sharma | |
| 2018 | Nirahua Chalal London | Nirahua | Amrapali Dubey | |
| 2019 | Sher-E-Hindustan | Arjun | Neeta Dhungana | |
| 2019 | Saiyan Ji Dagabaaz | Anjana Singh | ||
| 2019 | Jai Veeru | Jai | Amrapali Dubey | |
| 2019 | Lallu Ki Laila | Lallu | Amrapali Dubey | |
| 2020 | Muqaddar Ka Sikandar | Amrapali Dubey | ||
| 2020 | Romeo Raza | Amrapali Dubey | ||
| 2022 | Hum Hain Dulha Hindustani | Amrapali Dubey | ||
| 2022 | Aaye Hum Baarati Baarat Leke | Jaswinder Kaur | ||
| 2022 | Naach Baiju Naach | Baiju | Khushboo Sharma | |
| 2022 | Gabbroo | Vihaan | Amrapali Dubey, Sanjay Pandey | |
| 2022 | Sabka Baap Angutha Chhap | Shruti Rao, Sanjay Pandey, Manoj Tiger | ||
| 2022 | Raja Doli Leke Aaja | Raja | Amrapali Dubey, Shruti Rao | |
| 2023 | Maai: Pride of Bhojpuri | Amrapali Dubey | ||
| 2025 | Mere Husband Ki Shadi Hai | Amrapali Dubey, Kajal Raghwani | ||
| 2025 | Hamar Naam Вa Kanhaiya | Sanjay Pandey | ||
| 2025 | Jugal Master | Raksha Gupta | ||
| 2025 | Balma Bada Nadan 2 | Richa Dixit | ||
| 2025 | Govardhan | Meghasri, Kiran Yadav | To be released | |
| 2022 | Nirahua The Leader | Amrapali Dubey | ||
| 2022 | Aayi Milan Ki Raat | Amrapali Dubey | ||
| 2023 | Nirahua Chalal Sasural 3 | Amrapali Dubey | Filming | |
| 2023 | Fasal | Akshara Singh | ||
| 2023 | Nirahua Hindustani 4 | Amrapali Dubey | ||
| 2024 | Hey Ramji | Richa Dixit | ||
| 2025 | Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi | Anant V Joshi, Paresh Rawal |