Arun Govil celebrating his 66th Birthday

All credit for Lord Ram's temple goes to PM Narendra Modi...

We all are very well aware of Ram from Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana. Arun Govil, who played the role of Ram in Ramayana, is celebrating his 66th birthday on 12 January. Arun Govil is best known for playing the character of Lord Ram in the 'Ramayana' TV series (1987–1988). He was also seen in films like Paheli (1977), Sawan Ko Aane Do (1979), Saanch Ko Aanch Nahi (1979), Jiyo To Aise Jiyo (1981), Himmatwala (1983), Dilwala (1986) and Govinda Govinda (1994).

The consecration ceremony of 'Ram Lalla Temple' is going to be held in Ayodhya on January 22. Before that, on January 19, the film "695" based on Ayodhya will be screened. In which Arun Govil will be seen in the role of Guru Aviram. Who played the role of Ram in Ramanand Sagar's serial "Ramayan" released in 1987? Recently, a press conference was held regarding this film, where Arun Govil spoke openly.

What will you say about the film “695”?

-As we just saw in the trailer of the film and as its producer Shyam Chawla just told us, these three numbers have become very sacred and historical for all of us. They will always have a very high place in our lives. What we have received i.e. the temple of Ram Lalla will always remain a source of inspiration for us. The values, ideals, and thoughts of Shri Ram's life have always been inspiring us. And this is the story of Ram Lalla. The temple is a witness to the same thing, a proof of the same thing. As far as this film is concerned, this subject is very close to our hearts. Like all of us, Shri Ram is also the center of my faith. The subject of the film is very close to the heart. Because of this, I felt like doing it from within. I have played the role of Guru Aviram. Many times we work only as professional artists, and sometimes it happens that along with professional artists, that work has to be done from within. There is a desire to play that character.

Today I have also seen the trailer of the film in front of you all. The trailer has been made very well. The trailer tells that the film has also been made well. Because like me, this film was very close to the hearts of all of us artists. Today in everyone's mind there is only one Jai Ghosh - Jai Shri Ram Jai Shri Ram... Cooperation of all of you is expected, so that this Jai Ghosh can travel in all four directions. And where there are no Indians or where people of Sanatan Dharma do not live, its voice should reach there. May they also hear its echo in the universe? Jai Shri Ram Jai Shri Ram Jai Shri Ram...

When you played the character of Ram in 'Ramayana' in 1987, did it ever occur to you that one day such public awareness would be seen?

-This public awareness that has taken place was never the case that there was no public awareness and it was never the case that it was at its peak. Now the public awareness that has taken place at its peak has been possible only because of the Ram Temple. The fight that was fought for the Ram temple, the entire credit for it goes to the Prime Minister of our country, Shri Narendra Modi, who is its main leader. He has fought along with the people to build this temple. I showed willpower that I would get the temple built. Because of that, all this became possible. Gradually public awareness started coming. Secondly, two and a half years ago, during the Covid pandemic, our 'Ramayana' was re-telecasted on Doordarshan, this also increased public awareness. Played an important role in increasing it. Now you see, the first number six of the film '695' is from 1992. The second number is from 9, 2019 and 5 is from 2024. There is no public awareness of that kind from 1992 to 2029 i.e. 27 years. But it was in the minds of the people that Ram temple should be built. The spark was burning in the hearts of the people. Now that spark has become a fire. This is a positive fire that reconnects our country, and our culture when culture goes away from our life, we collapse. The root of the tree and our culture are the same thing. If the root of the tree is shaken, the tree dries up. Similarly, when we get separated from our culture, if we feel like it, then there is nothing left in us. We are once again connected to our culture and this time we are so connected that we will never be separated from it.

Now public awareness is very high. This is a good thing. 'Ramayana' was aired in 1987, in which I played the character of Ram. Now it is 2024, and still, people talk about the same Ramayana and Arun Govil. So it is no less about Arun Govil. This is God's will. He wanted someone to do this work and he gave me this work. Whatever I did, I have no hand in it. This is all the work of Ram ji.

Even in present times, for people of all ages, Ram means Arun Govil. When you played the character of Ram in Ramayana in 1987, what were you thinking in those days?

-I have already said that it was my destiny to play this character. The reality is that earlier I was not selected for the role of Ramayana. Whereas 'Ramayana; Even before this, I was working with Ramanand Sagar. Apart from the film, I had done a serial 'Vikram Aur Betal' with him, in which I played the character of Vikram. When I came to know that Ramanand Sagar ji was planning to make a serial on Ramayana. So it came to my mind that I should play the character of Ram. So I went to Ramanand Sagar and expressed my feelings to him. So he looked me up and down two or three times and said that he would tell me when the time came. When the time came, they took my audition and rejected me for the role of Ram. After that they told me that I should play the role of Laxman or Bharat, both these roles are also important. But I did not want to play the role, I had to play only the character of Lord Ram. I told Sagar ji that if you do not find me suitable to play the character of Ram, then there is no problem. The matter ended there. Many months passed. Artists kept giving auditions at their place. Out of curiosity, I was keeping track of who was being selected. Then I came to know that such and such an artist has been selected. So I forgot everything and started planning for the future. But I don't know where and what happened. But one day Sagar Saheb called me to meet him at his house and told me in Punjabi that his team believes that there can be no better Ram than Arun Govil. I thanked him. He said, 'I had also come to you with the same request. But now you have called me again, so it is a matter of my happiness.' So it was in my destiny. In those days, it was not good to act in a religious film or serial. It was considered so. I was doing commercial films in those days. I started my career in 1977 and the pilot of 'Ramayana' was made in 1986. So doing religious serials was not considered a good thing professionally. At that time my friends also I were forbidden from doing religious serials. None of us had any idea that 'Ramayana' serial would be such a big hit. But I told my friends that I didn't know whether it would benefit me or harm me, but I had to do it.

Ram is very sacred, but today there is a lot of politics going on regarding it. A leader like Jitendra Awhad even said that Ram was a non-vegetarian. What would you say?

-Good things can also be said for any person, it is not necessary that we say controversial things. The person who says such things reflects the mentality of that person. Such people cannot even think of good things. We cannot do anything with such people. Such people have always been there. Because along with positivity there is negativity. You cannot separate the two. It is up to us what we learn from someone. Our mothers there are fathers or elders, what we take from them is up to us only.

If Narendra Modi had not been Prime Minister, would Ram Lalla's temple have been built?

-See, it is believed that whatever is meant to happen, happens. Geeta talks about karma. So we cannot rely only on karma or luck alone. In our life, luck, and karma both interact with each other. It is essential and complementary. Karma is as important as destiny. Karma changes our destiny and destiny changes our karma.

It is being said that Ayodhya has changed.

-The roads of Ayodhya have indeed changed, the houses have changed, the railway station has changed, and a good airport has been built, but Ayodhya has not changed. Ayodhya was as revered for us earlier as it is revered today.

 

-Shantiswarup Tripathi

 

Read also:

• Aamir Khan proved that he is one of the best fathers in the world!!
  
• Sunny Deol Ends Rumors: Journey Comes to a Close!
• Sunny Leone Makes History: India's First official AI Replica Launch
• Sakshi Tanwar Birthday Special: Small Town Dreams Fulfilled
• Amrish Puri Tribute: From Civil Servant to Iconic Villain in Cinema