Friday Flashback: There was a time when there were no cable TV or satellite channels. Apart from theatre, Doordarshan used to be the only means of entertainment in villages and cities. At that time, a show came due to which there was silence on the streets. If you have even a little idea, then you must have guessed by now which show we are talking about.
Yes, we are talking about ‘Ramayana’ which came in 1987-88. Whoever played the character in this show, people still see him as the same character. There is a lot to talk about the show. But today we are going to talk about Arun Govil who plays the role of Lord Ram in the show. How he got this role and how his life changed after that.
How did Arun Govil get the role of Lord Ram?
Arun Govil shared an interesting incident related to this during an interview given to ANI a few months ago. He told that he was initially rejected for this role by the producers of the show. He told the whole story. He told that before this he used to do commercial films. I had done Anand Sagar’s film ‘Badal’ and during the same time I had also worked in ‘Vikram Betal’. Then I came to know that Ramanand Sagar Saheb was going to make Ramayana. So I contacted him. But, they took the audition and rejected me.
The roles of Bharat and Lakshman were offered to me
He further says that Ramanand Sagar’s sons explained to him that he should play the role of Bharat or Laxman, but I said that I only want to play the role of Ram. I have not come for any role. After that someone else was selected for the role of Ram. Then something happened that they called me and said that our committee believes that ‘Ter Varga Ram Nahi Milna’.
Family members were refusing to play the role of Ram
Arun Govil told that my family members had forbidden me that I should not work in Ramayana, because it could affect my career. Because at that time I had big films and working in any mythology was considered small scale. But still I played this character.
Lord Ram changed my life
He says that we did not know that this show would become such a big hit. Now I feel that Ram ji has given me so much that I am not uncomfortable with people. He says that I did not know how to play the character of Ram ji, but I played it as per the image of Ram in my mind.
Arun Govil’s story about cigarette smoking
Arun Govil told an amazing thing. He told that once he was playing the role of Lord Balaji in a Telugu film and was smoking a cigarette in between the work. In such a situation, a gentleman came to me and got angry that we consider you God and what are you doing. Since then my life changed. Since then I have understood that one should not hurt the mind of someone who has faith. He told that after playing the role of Ram ji on screen, it had a great impact on him.
