Latest news with #RamanandSagar
India.com
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
India's most expensive serial, 143 episodes made for massive Rs..., much more than Ramayan, has 8.5 IMDb rating, name is...
In this era of Indian cinema, filmmakers and producers invest crores and crores of rupees as the budget for movies and series. However, would you believe if we told you that a show made 32 years ago was considered one of the most expensive television shows of its time? The budget for the show, released three decades ago, was a whopping Rs 12 crore, which was massive back then. Many might assume the serial we're talking about is Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana, but it isn't. Scroll down to read more. Most Expensive TV Show Released 32 Years Ago This series was released in 1993 and aired on DD National. The show belonged to the thriller genre and had two seasons. If you're wondering which series we're talking about, it's the iconic Alif Laila. Most Popular TV Serial in 1993 Alif Laila was one of the most popular TV serials of 1993. It was based on Ek Hazar Ek Raatein, also known as Arabian Nights. The show was produced by Sagar Arts and released in two parts. It first aired in 1993 and ran till 2002. After its DD National run, it was also telecast on Sab TV, but the most popular was the first season, from 1993 to 1997. This show generated so much suspense and excitement among viewers that they didn't miss a single episode. It ran for nearly three years, producing a total of 143 episodes. According to several reports, each episode cost around ₹9 lakh to make. Adding up the expenses for all 143 episodes, the total production cost amounted to a massive sum. That means the total cost of 143 episodes of Alif Laila was ₹12.87 crore, making it the most expensive show of its time. The show was directed by Anand Sagar, Prem Sagar, and Moti Sagar. It holds an impressive IMDb rating of 8.5. The series featured stars like Firoz Ali, Girija Shankar, Damini Kanwal Shetty, Arun Govil, Shahnawaz Pradhan, Shah Nawaz, and Aslam Khan. Viewers loved this show so much that even today, people from that era fondly remember it.
India.com
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Not easy for Ranbir Kapoor and Sunny Deol to earn respect like Lord Rama and Hanuman of Ramanand Sagar's TV serial due to....
Not easy for Ranbir Kapoor and Sunny Deol to earn respect like Lord Rama and Hanuman of Ramanand Sagar's TV serial due to.... Ever since Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana has been announced, one question has been floating in the minds of the audience – Will anyone be able to truly match the magic of Ramanand Sagar's epic portrayal? Over the years, a lot of filmmakers and producers have tried to recreate the Ramayana in their way. However, none of them were able to create the same magic, emotional depth, or impact that Ramanand Sagar delivered. His series was aired in 1987, but it became a cultural phenomenon that remains untouched even today. From the emotional connection, spiritual depth, to the impeccable performances of the actor who did many sacrifices to bring their characters to life, Sagar's Ramayana has a separate fan base even today. Now, the question is whether the modern-day actors Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Sunny Deol, who have stepped into the shoes of these legendary actors, create the same stir and sensation that Sagar Ramayana had? Will the modern-day technology, VFX, and bid budget replace pure devotion, sacrifices, and soulful performances? Will Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana match the devotion of Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana? Arun Gill, who portrayed the role of Lord Ram, worked hard on himself to stay authentic to his role. Instead of just thinking about physical transformation, he focused on his dialogue delivery, emotions, and expressions to stay true to his character. He never went to the gym or trained himself, but his discipline made his character unforgettable. He also once revealed that he never watched any portrayals of Lord Raw; rather, he just studied a few of his pictures and prepared the character based on his imagination. His dedication gave results. People began worshipping him, offering garlands through their TV screens. His serene smile, which even filmmaker Rajkumar Barjatya praised, became iconic. Another actor, Deepika Chikhalia, who played the role of Lord Sita, was only 15 when she portrayed that character. Deepika's dedication towards her character was such that she remained in that character even off-screen. He stayed away from nail polish, modern outfits, and mostly donned only a saree to maintain the purity of Sita's image. Her dedication was commendable and not easy. Dara Singh, who played Hanuman, also went through some sacrifices and extreme physical discomfort. Dara Singh's makeup for Lord Hanuman's role used to take around 3 to 4 hours. He used to stay calm and patient throughout. And he had to stay hungry for 8–9 hours while wearing a difficult oak-moulded mask. His tail costume was also not easy to wear; it was uncomfortable and painful while sitting. A custom stool had to be made for him to accommodate his tail. Despite shoulder and knee pain, he took on the role after initial reluctance. He even gave up eating 24 eggs a day, which was once part of his diet. Arvind Trividi, who played the role of Ravan, also did some extreme work on himself. To align spiritually with the role, he learnt tantric chants and Shiva stutis. Instead of relying on VFX like today's actors, his dialogue delivery and authenticity towards his character were enough to evoke a sense of fear and fascination amongst the audience. In today's time, with modern technology, massive budgets, and special effects, the dedication and sacrifices that once actors made cannot match those of the new age actors. As per reports, Ranbir Kapoor, who will play Ram in Tiwari's film, has reportedly given up non-veg and smoking, but will it be enough? Only time will tell,
India.com
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayan is being made for Rs 1600 crore, but Ramanand Sagar made superhit TV show for just Rs …, idea was…
Ever since the discussion of Nitesh Tiwari's film 'Ramayan' started, Ramanand Sagar's 'Ramayan' has also started being discussed. Ramanand Sagar's 'Ramayan' was made 38 years ago, and even today it is considered a benchmark for films and shows made on this mythological epic in the world of film and TV. Many films and serials have been made on the saga of Lord Ram, Sita, and Ravana, but they could not even touch Ramanand Sagar's 'Ramayan'. Despite spending crores of rupees, they did not even come close to 'Ramayan', which Ramanand Sagar shot with Jugaad about four decades ago. What makes Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayan for Rs 1600 crore Now that the teaser of Nitesh Tiwari's film 'Ramayan' has come, Ramanand Sagar's 'Ramayan' is once again in the headlines. 'Ramayan's' special effects and BGM are being praised a lot. The VFX and special effects of this mega budget film of 1600 crores are being prepared by Prime Focus Limited, a company of Namit Malhotra, who has won 8 Oscars, which has prepared VFX for Hollywood films like 'Dune', 'Star Wars', 'Inception' and 'Interstellar'. But here we are telling you how Ramanand Sagar made 'Ramayan' without any technology and VFX. What technology was used in Ramanand Sagar's TV show? In the 80s, when there was no access to CGI and VFX technology, Ramanand Sagar made the most successful and record-breaking serial in the history of Indian television with Jugaad. 'Ramayan' had 78 episodes. Rs 9 lakh was spent on making each episode. According to this, 'Ramayan' was made in Rs 7 crore. It was telecast for the first time on Doordarshan in the year 1987. 'Ramayan' will be released in three parts. Rs 1600 crore will be spent on making these two parts. The film will have amazing VFX and special effects. Its VFX is being designed by Namit Malhotra's company. Namit has won the Oscar award 8 times. What was the jugaad used in Ramanand Sagar? The trick that Ramanand Sagar used for the collision of arrows and weapons in the war scene in 'Ramayan' and the special effects created by it will surprise you. Ramanand Sagar's son, Prem Sagar, told 'ETimes' that when 'Ramayan' was being made, a new machine, SEG 2000, was launched. With the help of that, the special effects of bow and arrow were created. Glass matting and mechanical effects were used for the light that came out when the arrows collided.
India.com
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Remember actress who played Sita's mother in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan? Was brutally murdered, police believed the reason was..., her name was...
Remember actress who played Sita's mother in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan? Was brutally murdered, police believed the reason was..., her name was... Ramanand Sagar's mythological series Ramayan holds a special place in audiences' hearts. Aired between 1987 to 1988 on DD National, the show became cult-classic, and made several actors household names. One of them was Urmila Bhatt, the actress who portrayed the role of Sita's mother Maharani Sunaina, in the show. She garnered appreciation for her notable performance, and later starred in other rememberable television serials. She was also a popular film actress, whose work spanned across Gujarat, Rajasthan and Hindi film industries. Who was Urmila Bhatt? Born on November 1, 1993, Urmila started working as a theatre artist, and later joined Sangeet Kala Academy in Rajkot as a folk dancer and singer. She rose to fame with her Gujarati drama Jesal Toran. Urmila then acted in over 75 Gujarati films, and over 15-20 Rajasthani films. In the late 1960s, she stepped into Hindi film industry and did films like Sunghursh (1968) and Hamraaz (1967). A few other popular films done by her are Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se (1978), Geet Gaata Chal (1975), Besharam (1978), Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985), Balika Badhu (1976), Dhund (1973) and Alibaba Marjinaa (1977) . Besides that, she portrayed several supporting characters. After Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan, she made episodic appearances in Shyam Bengal's Bharat Ek Khoj in 1989 and in Zee TV's Zee Horror Show in 1996. Urmila Bhatt's tragic death On February 22, 1997, Bhatt was found murdered at her Juhu residence. According to the police, her death came to light the other day, when her son-in-law visited her and found that no one answered the door bell. He immediately called his wife, and the two then found that the house was raided, and her mother was killed by robbers. Police too suspected robbery to be the motive. According to reports, she was alone at home, and her husband was away in Baroda. Died at 63, Urmila is survived by her husband, a son and a daughter. Her death was a shocker to the entire entertainment fraternity. From theatre, television to films, her impeccable contribution in the industry is widely remembered till date.
India.com
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Remember Ramanand Sagar Ramayan's 'Surpanakha'? The actress was paid Rs 30000 to cut off her nose, quit acting to work as..., her name is...
Remember Ramanand Sagar Ramayan's 'Surpanakha'? The actress was paid Rs 30000 to cut off her nose, quit acting to work as..., her name is... Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan, originally telecasted from January 1987 to July 1988, is considered the most-watched Indian television show even three decades after it ended. The show featured largely new or unknown characters in the lead roles such as Dipika Chikhlia, Sunil Lahri, and Arvind Trivedi, that later became household names following the show's success. Renu Dhariwal, who portrayed Ravana's sister Surpanakha, one of the most popular characters in Ramayana, also rose to fame. Even though, she starred in just four out of 78 episodes, she still captivated audiences with her performance in the mythological serial. The actress once shared the back story regarding how she got the role of Shurpanakha in Ramayan. In an earlier interaction with Indian Express, Renu recalled, 'I come from a conservative Punjabi family, the kind that would never allow their daughters to enter showbiz. But I wanted to be an actor, a decision my Bengali mother supported. Without telling my father the real reason for moving to Bombay, I came here and joined Roshan Taneja's acting classes, where Govinda was my classmate. After that, I started to work in theatre. That's where Papaji (Ramanand Sagar) saw me.' She further added, 'He saw me play a mother in a play called Purush. When he realised I was a young girl, he was impressed and asked me to audition for Surpanakha's role. Surpanakha is the sister of a powerful warrior and scholar, Raavan. She is a princess and a shapeshifter, and the one who becomes the trigger for the most famous battle in Hindu mythology. I didn't see any reason to let go of the opportunity.' Renu was paid Rs 30000 for her portrayal of Surpanakha in Ramayan. Morever, she also received several work opportunities following the show's success. During the same interaction, she recalled, 'It got me roles in BR Chopra's teleseries Chunni, Surinder Singh's National Award-winning Punjabi film Marhi da Deewa and also Hema Malini's directorial debut Dil Aashna Hai, before I gave it all up for a career in politics.' Renu Dhariwal gave up her acting career after marriage, and now currently lives in Mumbai with her husband and a son. After taking a step back from films, she ventured into politics, and now works actively for Congress Party. Moreover, she also helps her husband in his real estate business. Besides this, she also operates two NGOs for women and child care.
