Latest news with #RamanandSagar
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Ramanand Sagar's iconic Ramayan was nearly shelved, slapped with 175 cuts': Varun Badola reveals he was ‘stopped from quoting Ramcharitmanas'
Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan is one of the most watched shows in Indian television history, with its re-runs still airing on the Doordarshan network. While it's now considered to be an evergreen classic, the show was nearly shelved. Actor, director and writer Varun Badola, known for his popular roles on television, sat down for an interview and shared some anecdotes about the television industry. In an appearance on the YouTube show Zindagi with Richa, Badola talked about his time in television, and his transition into OTT. Among the many stories he shared, he was very vocal about the practices of network executives and what all goes into getting a show on air. He revealed how his vision seldom aligned with the makers' and said, 'The first thing we are always told on TV is that the show has to be aspirational. Either I was taught a very different meaning of that word, or I didn't understand the makers.' ALSO READ: Varun Badola answers if Ekta Kapoor ruined Indian television forever, says he spoke to her about it: 'Sunne waalon mein se nahi hai' He gave an example of how too much red tape can be harmful for the business and talked about how the iconic Ramayan series was stuck on a shelf for reasons he never understood. He said, 'I can give you first hand information regarding this, that a show like Ramayan had 175 cuts prepared. Ramanand Sagar himself made those 175 cuts and told me. Yet they did not want to air the show for reasons best known to them.' The actor added that people start walking on eggshells when it comes to stories with religious backdrops, and blamed it on the 'rudimentary and archaic' thinking of people. The type of thinking which led makers of a certain show to stop Badola for quoting the epic Ramcharitmanas. 'I wanted to use a quote from the Ramcharitmanas, and they were completely against it and told me that it wasn't allowed. Their explanations were very weird, and they told me that I could use any one obscure line written by Kabir, but I couldn't use the entire doha,' added Badola. Badola has made a successful transition from daily soap operas to web series on OTT platforms with appearances in shows like Guns and Gulaabs (2023), Your Honour (2020), and Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen (2024). He also starred in Sky Force (2025) alongside Akshay Kumar and debutant Veer Pahariya.
India.com
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This actor played 'Raja Dasharatha' in Ramayan, suddenly disappeared after doing 22 films, his name was..., last film was...
Ramayan, which aired on Doordarshan in 1987, has entertained the Indian audience for a long time. The star cast of this mythological show, directed by Ramanand Sagar, is also considered quite cult. On this basis, today we are going to tell you in detail about the actor who played the role of Raja Dasharatha in the TV's Ramayan. Where is that actor at present, and what is he doing? Not only in Ramayana but also in the film world, this artist has shown his talent. Where is King Dasharath of Ramayan? Ramayan, was telecasted again during the lockdown. During that time, too, there was a lot of discussion about the character of King Dasharatha. Of course, other characters, including actor Arun Govil, who played the role of Lord Ram, stole the limelight of the show. But no one can forget the role of King Dasharatha played by actor Bal Dhuri. Bal Dhuri has been a veteran actor of Marathi cinema. In this mythological show, he won the hearts of the fans by giving 100 percent of his powerful acting. Currently, Bal Dhuri is seen doing small roles in the Marathi film industry. But somewhere, he is also in the shadow of anonymity, because his glimpse is rarely seen on the screen. However, he is still longing for the kind of success that he got through Ramayana. Not only Ramayana, he has also worked as an actor in many films. Most of which include Marathi films. Bal Dhuri's acting career Bal Dhuri started his acting career in the 70s through the Marathi film Devchiye Dwari. After this, he also appeared in an important role in the Dara Singh starrer Jai Bajrang Bali. In this way, he worked in about 22 films. But in 1987, Bal Dhuri's career changed suddenly with Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana. Apart from Ramayana, Bal Dhuri is known for playing the character of the Great Maratha Balaji Bajirao. Talking about his personal life, he married Bollywood and Marathi actress Jayshree Gadkar.
India.com
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This actor played the role of 'Sugriva' in Ramayan, his name is..., where is he now and what is he doing?
From time to time, mythological shows and films have been produced in the entertainment world. But the Ramayana made by Ramanand Sagar on Doordarshan in the 80s still lives in the hearts of fans. There is a lot of discussion about the cast of this Ramayana. Especially many actors like actor Arun Govil, who plays the role of Lord Ram, and Arvind Trivedi, who appears in the role of Ravana, remain a part of it. Today, we are going to tell you about the actor who played the role of Sugriva in the TV's Ramayana. The cast of Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana was very special in itself. Every character of this is an example in today's era. All the actors did justice to their roles with great simplicity. But actor Shyam Sundar Kalani, who appeared in the role of monkey king Sugriva, was something else. Shyam said goodbye to this world on 29 March 2020 during the lockdown. Actor Arun Govil gave information about this through a social media post. The character of Sugriva was very important in Ramayana and Shyam Sundar immortalised him with his powerful acting. Before his death, Shyam lived in the current house boarding colony in Kalka, Panchkula, Haryana. His acting career was quite brilliant. Apart from Ramayana, Shyam Sundar Kalani also worked in many films. However, with time, he went away from the limelight. In an interview given to Lehro Retro, Ramanand Sagar's son, Prem Sagar had informed that finding the role of Sugriva had become a big challenge for the makers. Once the shooting of Ramayana was going on late at night in the forest near Umargaon in Gujarat, a tall and broad man came there and fell at my father's feet and said that I am your Sugriva, please give me this role. In this way, Shyam Sundar Kalani became a part of Ramayana.
