Veteran actor Arun Govil reviewed the role that transformed his life while attending the great Ramayana: Pratham Sankalp event at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Friday. The actor, who became a household name after playing Lord Ram Ramanand SagarThe iconic TV series, he shared memories of how he was initially rejected for the role before it was cast.The event marked the beginning of the promotion campaign of Nitesh TiwariRamayana, which stars Ranbir Kapoor like Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita Govil is also a part of the film but this time she plays King Dasharath, Lord Ram’s father.
Arun Govil says he was rejected by Lord Ram
Speaking at the event, Govil reflected on how deeply the name ‘Ram’ is woven into everyday life in India.“Ram may be a very small word, but it is woven into our lives. Whatever stage of life we are going through and whatever emotion we are expressing, the word finds its way there. We say ‘Hai Ram’, ‘Arre Ram’, ‘Ram Ram’ and even ‘Ram duhai’. Everything around us is full of Ram,” he said.The actor then shared the story of how he landed the role that defined his career.Govil recalled that after hearing that Ramanand Sagar was making Ramayan, he approached the filmmaker and expressed his desire to play Lord Ram.“I approached him without thinking about anything else and told him I wanted to play Shri Ram. He auditioned me and rejected me outright,” revealed Govil.The makers later asked if he would be willing to play another character, including Bharat or Lakshman, but Govil declined.“I told them if they didn’t think I was worthy, they could let me go. I didn’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 mind.Recalling the moment, Govil said he was told, “We won’t find a Ram like you.”Looking back on the experience, she added, “It was my luck that Ram chose me.”
“There are many versions of the Ramayana, but its values remain the same”
Govil also spoke about 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 vary according to the account, but it cannot be different from the spirit of the Ramayana. Each version is ultimately about Ram and the nature of Ram. 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 plays King Dasharath in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’
Talking about joining Nitesh Tiwari’s film, Govil said that returning to the world of Ramayana in the role of King Dasharath was an emotional experience.“Ram’s world has always felt good to me, and it still does. But this time, I was playing a different character,” he said.The actor revealed that while playing Dasharath, he often found himself thinking about his own performance as Lord Ram from almost four decades ago.“Whenever I was on set, whether Ram was in front of me or not, he could still see me in front of me,” he shared.
Arun Govil praises Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra
Govil also praised director Nitesh Tiwari, describing him as a calm filmmaker whose composure influenced the entire unit.“He says very little. He conveys everything silently through his silence,” Govil said.Recalling the atmosphere on the set, he added that unlike most big productions, there was very little chaos during filming.“Perhaps it was because we were doing Ramayana. Every person, be it an actor or a technician, carried the same sentiment. We were united by the pride of the story and the truth,” he said.The veteran actor also felicitated producer Namit Malhotra, applauding his journey from running a modest office to producing one of the biggest films in Indian cinema. He also praised the work of DNEG, saying that their visual effects have 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.