Veteran actor: Arun Govil returned to the role that changed his life when he attended the grand Ramayana:: Pratham Sankalp event at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Friday. The actor, who became a household name after playing Lord Ram in: Ramanand SagarThe iconic television series’, shared memories of how he was initially rejected for the role before finally being cast.The event marks the start of a promotional campaign for: Nitesh Tiwariof Ramayana, which stars: Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and: Sai Pallavi said Sita. Govil is also a part of the film, but this time he plays King Dasharath, Lord Ram’s father.
Arun Govil says he was rejected for Lord Ram
Speaking at the event, Govil reflected on how deep the name “Ram” is in everyday life in India.“Ram may be a very small word, but it is woven into our lives. Whatever stage of life we go through and whatever emotion we express, the word enters it. We say ‘Hai Ram’, ‘Arre Ram’, ‘Ram Ram’ and even ‘Ram duhai’. Everything around us is filled with Ram,” he said.The actor then shared the story of how he landed the role that defined his career.Govil recalls that after learning that Ramanand Sagar was making Ramayan, he approached the filmmaker and expressed his desire to play Lord Ram.“I approached him without a second thought and said I wanted to play Shri Ram. He auditioned me and rejected me,” revealed Govil.The makers later asked if he would be willing to play another character, including Bharat or Lakshman, but Govil refused.“I told them that if they don’t consider me worthy, they can let me go. I don’t want another role,” he said.A few months later, he received an unexpected phone call informing him that the selection committee had changed its decision.Recalling the moment, Govil said he was told, “We will never find a Ram like you.”Recalling the experience, he added, “It was my good fortune that Ram chose me.”
“There are many versions of Ramayana, but its values remain the same”
Govil also spoke of the enduring legacy of the Ramayana, saying that while there are believed to be nearly 300 versions of the epic, its moral foundation remains unchanged.“The point of view may differ according to the telling, but it cannot be different from the spirit of the Ramayana. Each version ultimately deals with Ram and Ram’s character. The value system remains the same,” he said.He added that while each adaptation may have its own cinematic language, the essence of the epic should always remain intact.
Arun Govil to play King Dasharath in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’
Talking about Nitesh Tiwari’s participation in the film, Govil said that returning to the world of Ramayana in the role of King Dasharath was an emotional experience.“Ram’s world always felt good to me, and it still does.The actor revealed that while portraying Dasharath, he often found himself thinking about his own performance as Lord Ram from almost four decades ago.“Every time I am on the set, whether Ram is in front of me or not, I still see myself in front of me,” he shared.
Arun Govil praised Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra
Govil also praised director Nitesh Tiwari, describing him as a calm filmmaker whose composure influenced the entire unit.“He said very little. He quietly expressed everything through his silence,” Govil said.Recalling the atmosphere on the set, he added that unlike most big productions, there was little chaos during filming.“Maybe because we are doing Ramayana. Every person, be it an artist or a technician, carries the same feeling. We are united by the pride of the story and the truth,” he said.The veteran actor also congratulated producer Namit Malhotra, praising his journey from running a modest office to making one of the biggest films in Indian cinema. He also praised DNEG’s work, saying its visual effects helped Indian talent gain global recognition.Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The two-part epic is slated to release during Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027, while its first official trailer will be released worldwide on July 24.
