'Ramayan': Reel-life Ram and Sita share iconic throwback picture
An iconic picture of the Ramayan cast is doing the rounds on social media. And no, it has not been taken from TV. In fact, Ramayan actors Dipika Chikhlia, who played Sita, and Arun Govil, who played Ram, shared the throwback picture on their social media accounts. The image features Arun, Dipika, director Ramanand Sagar, and fellow members of the show's crew.
Sharing the picture on Instagram, Dipika wrote, "The Epic pic of the entire team of Ramayan cast and crew, (Ramanand) sagar Saab with his son and below them are direction team and camera team." "Barring Ravan almost all Were there...Only wen we look back do we know what all we have left behind...so many of the cast no more...RIP to them all, (sic)" she added.
The picture was also shared by Arun Govil, and Sunil Lahri, the actor who portrayed Lakshman. Govil wrote, "Ramayan family. They made one of the most glorious shows in the history of television." Meanwhile, Lahri said the photo was rare as it also featured the creative team working behind the screens. It was a memorable moment for me, he added.
Ramayan kept families glued to their TV screens when it first aired in the late 1980s. The series also starred Arvind Trivedi as Ravana and Dara Singh as Hanuman. Now, the classic show is back on TV for a re-telecast during the lockdown. In its first weekend, it garnered a record-breaking 17 crore viewers. It airs at 9 am and 9 pm daily on DD National.
Quite recently, Ramayan actor Shyamsundar Kaalaani, who portrayed the role of Sugriva and Bali in the show, passed away in Kalka, after battling cancer for a long time. Meanwhile, apart from Ramayan, other popular TV series from the 90s that have made a comeback on Doordarshan include Mahabharat, Shaktimaan, Byomkesh Bakshi, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Buniyaad, and Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Circus.
