Veteran actor Arun Govil revisited the role that transformed his life as 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 Sagar‘s iconic television series, shared memories of how he was initially rejected for the role before eventually being cast.The event marked the beginning of the promotional campaign for Nitesh Tiwari‘s Ramayana, which stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Govil is also 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 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 passing through and whatever emotion we are expressing, the word finds its way into 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 recalled that after learning 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 said that I wanted to play Shri Ram. He auditioned me and rejected me outright,” Govil revealed.The makers later asked whether he would be willing to play another character, including Bharat or Lakshman, but Govil declined.“I told them that if they did not consider me worthy, they could let me go. I did not 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 not find a Ram like you.”Looking back on the experience, he added, “It was my good fortune 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 can differ according to the telling, but it cannot become different from the spirit of the Ramayana. Every version ultimately speaks of Ram and the nature of Ram. The value system remains the same,” he said.He added that while every adaptation may have its own cinematic language, the essence of the epic should always remain intact.
Arun Govil on playing King Dasharath in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’
Speaking about joining Nitesh Tiwari’s film, Govil said 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 performing a different character,” he said.The actor revealed that while portraying Dasharath, he often found himself thinking about his own performance as Lord Ram from nearly four decades ago.“Whenever I was on set, whether Ram was standing before me or not, I could still see myself 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 quietly conveys everything through his silence,” Govil said.Recalling the atmosphere on set, he added that unlike most large productions, there was very little chaos during filming.“Perhaps it was because we were making Ramayana. Every person, whether an actor or a technician, carried the same feeling. We were held together by pride in the story and by truth,” he said.The veteran actor also congratulated 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 its visual effects have helped Indian talent earn 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 scheduled to release during Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027, while its first official trailer will premiere worldwide on July 24.