Arun Govil talks about life before and after Ramayana
Arun Govil talks about life before and after Ramayana
How did a small-town guy from Meerut become Lord Ram?
I never grew up dreaming about films or television. Mine was not a filmy background. My father was a government officer, so the safest bet for me would have been to become a babu.
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How did you get into serials?
In 1975 I moved to Mumbai, but to start my own business. Somehow, it didn't materialise but since I was in Mumbai, I asked to myself, "Why not acting?"
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Did Ramanand Sagar approach you to play Ram's role ?
I did. I was already working with the Sagar camp for Vikram Betal.u00a0 In 1984 when the mythological series was being planned for telly, I told them about my intentions to play the lead. I even auditioned for it.
It would have been a straight "yes"?
No, I was rejected. Instead, I was asked to play Bharat, Laxman or Shatrughan. But i got the lead role.
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Since the impact of your role was huge, can you sight some strange encounters?
When I walked in public, they tried to touch me, cried if I looked at them, some even tried to feel if I am human. One day, a lady came to me with his ailing baby and kept him on my feet. She said, "Aap hi ise theek kar sakte ho. Aap to bhagwaan ho."u00a0 She wasn't ready to believe that I am human.