Arun Govil Reveals Why He Was Rejected By Ramanand Sagar For Ram's Role In Ramayan

Think

of Arun Govil; his image as Ramanand Sagar’s Ram flashes in the mind and heart. That’s the impact the veteran actor left with his performance in the iconic show that reached every Indian household. Govil, now a politician too, has been recognised and widely revered for depicting Shri Ram in the 1980s show. Now, he has been promoted to the role of King Dashrath in the upcoming Ramayana by Nitesh Tiwari. Ranbir Kapoor plays Rama. On Saturday, the makers of the mythological film hosted an event in Delhi. At the Pratham Sankalp event, Arun recalled being rejected for the role of Ram in the television show.

Arun Govil on the power of Ram

Arun said at the event, "Ram may be a very small word, but it is woven into our lives. Whatever stage of life we are passing through and whatever emotion we are expressing, the word finds its way into it. We say 'Hai Ram', 'Arre Ram', 'Ram Ram' and even 'Ram duhai'. Everything around us is filled with Ram.”

Why was Arun Govil rejected for Ram's role in Ramayan

He further recalled approaching Ramanand Sagar for Ramayan and put forth the demand of playing Ram in the show. The veteran filmmaker auditioned him and rejected the actor for the role. He suggested trying to audition for Bharat or Lakshman. However, months later, Sagar called Arun, saying he couldn’t find a better Ram. Talking about Ramayana, the veteran actor shared, “The point of view can differ according to the telling, but it cannot become different from the spirit of the Ramayana. Every version ultimately speaks of Ram and the nature of Ram. The value system remains the same."At the event, Ranbir Kapoor thanked Arun Govil for inspiring generations of actors with his performance as Shri Ram. He said, “Aapne yeh zimmedari saalon se itni khubsoorati, sacchayi aur dignity se pesh kiya hai. Aapka yeh safar mere jaise actors, sirf mere hi nahi, us shar insaan jisne Ramanand Sagar ki Ramayana dekhi hai aapne unko bharosa aur Prerna di hai. Jaise aapne Bhagwan Shri Ram ko apne andar utara hai, agar main itna bhi kar pau toh mere liye mehnat safal aur rang layegi. Bachpan se sir Bhagwan Shri Ram ka ashirwad aur unki seekh aur aapka chehra dil mein rakhkar bada hua hu. We love you like you are our own.”(Translation: You have carried the responsibility [of playing Shri Ram] beautifully, honestly and with dignity over the years. Your journey, not just for actors like me but for all those who have grown up watching Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, has been inspiring. You have instilled faith and trust in them. I only hope my work does justice to the legacy you have carried. I have grown up with Shri Ram’s blessings and your image of Him in my heart. We love you like you are our own.)Ramayana is the retelling of the Valmiki Ramayana. It is co-produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash. The film releases in October.