Arun Govil Almost Turned Down Dashrath in ₹660 Crore Ramayana
Arun Govil reveals why he almost passed on King Dashrath in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, and how the new epic links to Ramanand Sagar's classic.
Arun Govil has been the face of Lord Ram for generations, thanks to Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan. So when Nitesh Tiwari’s new Ramayana asked him to play King Dashrath, it looked like the easiest yes in Bollywood. Instead, Govil almost walked away.
In a new interview with Variety India, the actor said he only came on board after the director insisted. “To be honest, initially, I didn’t want to do this role,” Govil said. “But Nitesh Tiwari, the director, was insistent. They wanted some connect between our Ramayan and this Ramayana.”
A bridge between two Ramayanas
That connection carries real weight. The new film has already crossed ₹660 crore worldwide in its first five days, one of the best starts for an Indian film ever. Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, with Govil as Ram’s father, King Dashrath.
By placing Govil at the centre of the dynasty, Tiwari’s film draws a line back to the Doordarshan blockbuster that ran from 1987 to 1988 and remains the most-watched Indian television show of all time. For older viewers, the casting is a blessing of sorts; for new viewers, it is a reminder that this story has a deep screen legacy.
The two casts, for the record
- New film: Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, Arun Govil as Dashrath.
- 1987-88 TV series: Arun Govil as Ram, Dipika Chikhlia as Sita, Arvind Trivedi as Ravana, Sunil Lahri as Lakshman.
Living in the shadow of an icon
Ranbir Kapoor’s performance has been praised, but it was always going to be measured against the television Ram. Govil was careful not to add to that pressure. “My performance as Lord Rama became the touchstone,” he said. “It is still alive in the hearts and minds of people. Nobody wants to see another Rama.”
He described how far that image has travelled. Even now, in melas across North and Central India, the photographs sold as Lord Ram carry his face. It is exactly why Govil said he does not feel right judging another actor’s take on the role.
Why this matters for fans
This is not just a casting anecdote. It shows how deliberately the new Ramayana is positioning itself alongside the version India grew up watching. Govil had one condition: “Had I felt it wasn’t right, I would not have done it.” The fact that he eventually accepted suggests the part, and the film’s approach, won him over.
Produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in collaboration with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, Ramayana is the first part of a duology. Part 1 is in theatres now, and Part 2 is scheduled for 2028.
Source: Hindustan Times
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