India is celebrating the Ram Mandir opening ceremony today in Ayodhya. Arun Govil, who played the iconic role of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar’s epic Ramayan, recently revealed that people had warned him against doing the role.

In the interview, Govil also admitted that the role gifted him with rare stardom and that he is grateful for all the love he received.

Arun Govil admits Ramayan changed his life

Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan

If you are from the 80s, the name Lord Ram must pull out one of the most memorable faces in Indian TV history in the blink of an eye – Arun Govil.

Directed by Ramanand Sagar, Arun Govil played the iconic role of Lord Ram while Dipika Chikhlia played the role of his wife, Sita, in Ramayan.

In his recent interview with News18, Arun Govil confessed how he was warned against doing the role and that it was ‘graded’ work.

Ramanand Sagar directed Ramayan began in 1987 and concluded in 1988

Govil talked about his commercial career and how he thought initially that doing the role was a ‘mistake’. His close ones also suggested at the same time that he might get stereotyped. However, Govil went ahead with his hunch.

“…I got a lot of love from the audience. I wouldn’t get so much love if I was a commercial actor. Now, I think if I wouldn’t have done this role, I wouldn’t have lived my life.”

Ramanand Sagar launched the first episode of Ramayan on 25^th January 1987 on Doordarshan. The final episode was aired on 31^st July 1988. There were a total of 78 episodes. The epic mythology series is based on the story Ramayan written originally by Valmiki.

 Ramayan brought undeniable admiration, says grateful Arun Govil

Dipika Chikhlia and Arun Govil ahead of Ram Mandir ceremony

Giving in to people’s advice may not fetch results sometimes, but the case was the opposite for Arun Govil. His graceful portrayal of Lord Ram in Ramayan made him synonymous with the Hindu God, Lord Ram, in reality. It brought him an immense but rare success, recognition, and of course, unparalleled admiration from fans all over India.

And for that, Govil is truly grateful.

“God is giving me all of this and I tell myself to take whatever he gives. He has blessed me a lot. But I have no credit in this, I haven’t done anything, I’m just a medium,” he said in the same interview.

Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhlia in Ayodhya

After Ramayan, Arun Govil received supporting roles in several movies viz. Do Aankhein Barah Haath (1997), Hathkadi (1995), Muqabla (1993), and more.

As of this moment, Arun Govil is present with his Ramayan co-star Dipika Chikhlia in Ayodhya. The on-screen couple is there at the occasion of the Ram Mandir pran-pratishtha ceremony.