Aarav Chaudhary as Dasharatha in 'Shrimad Ramayana'

Aarav Chaudhary, who became famous for the role of Bhishma Pitamah in the serial Mahabharata, has also done many Bollywood films, which include films like 'Dhoom' and 'Housefull'. But he got real fame by playing the role of Bhishma in the 2013 serial Mahabharata. Aarav will be seen in the role of Raja Dasharatha in Soni TV's upcoming historical period drama 'Shrimad Ramayana'. The show is going to air on Sony TV from January 1. Let us tell you how was Aarav's experience...

You have a long association with Swastik Productions, you played the role of Bhishma Pitamah in Mahabharata, and now you are playing the role of Dasharatha in Shrimad Ramayana, what would you like to say about it?

There are only two epics of India, one is Mahabharata and the other is Ramayana. I am fortunate that I got a chance to play the character of Bhishma Pitamah in Mahabharata, and now I have a chance to play the character of Dasharatha in Ramayana. Ten years ago we did Mahabharata and now after ten years, we have got a chance to do Ramayana with Swastik. It feels great, it has been written very beautifully. We all are aware of Dasharatha's character and how he was forced to send Shri Ram into exile. But what is the story of Dashrath, how he became Dashrath? His real name is not Dashrath and many people do not know this. His name was Maharaj Nemi, he won a huge war in which he helped Lord Indra and other gods, in that war he showed so much skill that since then he was named Dasharatha. We will show all these things in the story.

Tell us something about this character and how you came to be a part of this show.

After Mahabharata, he had called for other shows but nothing came of it. Now when he was making Ramayana, he again called me for the role of Dasharatha. I had the same image of Dashrath in my mind that we all have in our minds. I asked him why he wanted me to play the role of Dasharatha because when I did Mahabharata, the character of Bhishma was important from the beginning till the end of the show. Then he told me that he is not Dashrath as is his common image. When I heard the narration, I came to know that each episode in the beginning is going to be of one hour, if a film is of two hours, then there will be eight to ten such films of Dashrath alone. It will show Dasharatha's life from the beginning with his three queens, and then his wish that he would not have sons, and how he would have four sons, all this story will be told in full detail.

Were you the first choice for this character?

I would like to think so.

Ramayana is coming ten years after Mahabharata and that too on the occasion of New Year's, this is a gift for the fans. What would you like to say to the audience?

All I would like to say is that the way you have given me so much love for Bhishma and the way every day I get messages on social media not only from my own country but from people all over the world, they tell me that they still love this show. They see it and they like it. I can promise that you will enjoy watching this too, because Shrimad Ramayana has been equally beautifully written, and filmed, and we have worked hard in the same detailing. Initially, this show will have one-hour episodes, so the audience has a lot to watch. I am enjoying doing this character very much because there is a lot to do with this character. Sir, not only in India but people all over the world will watch it and there will be something new in it for everyone because there is a lot of newness in this Ramayana. The story is what has happened and what is written. There are many new things in it that people will get to know. People will also enjoy seeing it. Just a few days ago, I shot a scene at the Lotus Lake, where lotuses were floating in the background of the scene. We have shot at a very beautiful location, so when people see it, their hearts will also be happy.