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Arunji, how do you see regaining fame as Rama??
I never expected it. No one did. Lekin halaat kuch aise ban gaye… The whole family in every Indian home was home and everyone saw Ramayan together for the first time. In fact, I saw it for the first time due to the crash.
You mean you have never seen him before?
Not in its entirety. Pieces and pieces … yes. But not this way, sitting at home watching all the episodes from first to last.
And what do you think about that?
Achi cheez toh achi hi lagegi na. I cannot describe my feelings. Sitting and watching my series that has brought so much happiness to people around the world for 30 years … What more could an actor want? I’m not critical I didn’t see Ramayan to find fault. I loved every shot every moment. You can’t find fault with something that has brought so much joy to millions of people. This time, young people watched the entire series and even young people enjoyed it as much as older generations.
Does part of such a successful Ramayan career this time have to do with the collective audience it received?
The collective hearing is fine. But the appreciation we got even after 33 years when it first aired … I think it has more to do with the relevance of Ramayan. His teachings are more relevant today than ever.
I remember when Ramayan was first broadcast, people on the roads touched your feet as if you were the real Rama?
And this time I also get the same kind of response. The appreciation is overwhelming; I am receiving the same appreciation, as if they had seen Bhagwan Rama in me again. It is really rewarding. I am grateful for the love I have received from my people.
It is surprising that humanity has reached the moon and still believes in the gods as strongly as ever.
Yeh Sanskrit ki baat hai (It is about our culture). It has nothing to do with reaching the moon. That has to do with science. Why mix culture with scientific progress? The love and respect we feel for our parents has not changed just because we have touched the moon. Our problem is that we have started mixing watch and sanskriti.
Would you say that the image of Lord Rama got in the way of your acting career??
Always happens. In India there is always typecasting. If an actor plays a police officer in a movie, he continues to play in 50 movies. It is unavoidable. Today this casting of images is changing in our cinema. But I played Lord Rama. I do not regret losing other roles because of my image. 33 years after its first broadcast, people are giving me their love and respect. You are interviewing me about a role I played many years ago. What more can I ask for? Zindagi mein aadmi kya khota hai and kya pata hai ussey gaur se dekhni chahiye. If I lost some roles, look what I gained. Mujhe lagta hai maine khoya bahot kam aur paya bahot zyada hai.
Going back, after they packed up the role of Rama, their lifestyle changed dramatically?
Not really. Even before playing Rama, I was never an outgoing person. I grew up in an environment where Ramayan was read regularly. My mom and dad read Ramayan and we did puja every morning and night. So no, I didn’t have to stretch to play Rama. the maryada (bow) came naturally to me. I am not an excessively religious person. But I do believe in God and Rama.
Your co-star Dipika feels the Ramayan cast should receive royalties for this broadcast.?
Jee bilkul milni chahiye. Why not?
Would you like to go back to acting??
Phir woh image wali baat aa jayegi. If I get any role that inspires me, I’d love it. Otherwise, I have enough.
Also read: After Ramayan and Mahabharat, Shri Krishna of Ramanand Sagar will be reissued in Doordarshan
