Arun Govil
| Arun Govil | |
|---|---|
 Govil in 2009 | |
| Born |
12 January 1958 Meerut, Uttar Pradesh |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, director |
| Spouse(s) | Shrilekha |
| Children |
Amal Govil (son) Sonika Govil (daughter) |
Arun Govil (born 12 January 1958) is an Indian actor, producer and director. He has acted in various Hindi, Bhojpuri, Braj Bhasha, Oriya and Telugu movies. He is best known for playing Rama in Ramanand Sagar's hit television series Ramayan (1986).
Personal life
Arun Govil was born in Ramnagar near Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. He got his formal education at Meerut University, where he acted in some plays. He spent his teenage life in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His father wanted him to become a government servant while Arun wanted to do something for which he would be remembered. In 1975, at the young age of 17, he moved to Mumbai to start his own business there. He later found his way into acting.
Family
Arun Govil is the fourth of six brothers and two sisters. His elder brother Vijay Govil is married to Tabassum, a former child actress and the host of the first Bollywood Celebrity talk show on Doordarshan Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan which continued for 21 years. His nephew is Film and TV actor Hoshang Govil (Son of Vijay and Tabassum Govil).His father Shri Chandra Prakash Govil was a government officer. Govil is married to actress Shrilekha, with whom he has a son and a daughter.
Religious beliefs
Arun Govil describes himself as "not particularly religious" and says when he was a child he would attend Ram-lila plays to please his religious mother. According to Arun Govil, his journey from 'not particularly religious' to a God loving person was really interesting, and today he is happy serving the society. He adds that he's enjoying the spiritual change he is experiencing today, and feels peace and ecstasy in the same.
Career
Actor
Arun Govil got his first break in Indian cinema in the 1977 film Paheli When he was introduced to Tarachand Barjatya by his sister in law Tabassum. He later starred in other films such as Sawan Ko Aane Do (1979), Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin (1979), Ayaash (1982) and Itni Si Baat (1981).
Ramanand Sagar cast Govil as Vikramaditya in his television series Vikram Aur Betaal and Rama in his highly successful television series Ramayan, for which he won the Uptron Award for "Best Actor in a Leading Role" in 1988. His role as Rama provided great exposure to him and led to him being cast in other religious-based roles, including Harishchandra in Vishwamitra (TV series) and Buddha in TV series Buddha. Arun govil has worked in movies of several languages. He has worked in Oriya movies like Bidhira Bidhan (1989) and many Telugu movies like Edu Kondalaswamy (1991), Govindha Govindha (1993), and Great Robbery (1996). "Aa re Kaaliya" He has also got an opportunity to anchor show on lord Ram, "Jahan Jahan Ram charan chali jaahi". He also lent his voice in 1992 mythological Indo-Japanese animation movie "Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama" as Lord Rama.
Producer
He later set up a production company with his Ramayan co-star Sunil Lahiri. He produced and acted in Mashaal, a TV series based on the Indian independence movement. His wife Shrileikha acted and co-produced the show as well.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Film | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Paheli | Balram | |
| 1979 | Sawan Ko Aane Do | Birju | |
| Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin | Ajay S. Agarwal | ||
| Raadha Aur Seeta | Shekhar Verma | ||
| 1980 | Judaai | Umakant S. Verma | |
| Ganga Dham | Mohan | ||
| 1981 | Jiyo To Aise Jiyo | Kundan Sharma | |
| Itni Si Baat | Anand | ||
| Shradhanjali | Raju Kumar | ||
| Commander | |||
| 1982 | Gumsum | Shankar | |
| Ayaash | Amal | ||
| Ramayana | Ram | ||
| Sasural | Narendra | ||
| Jawalaa Dahej Ki | |||
| Brij Bhoomi | Braj Bhasha dialect film | ||
| 1983 | Lal Chunariyaa | ||
| Himmatwala | Govind | ||
| Justice Chaudhury | Inspector Ramesh Chaudhary | ||
| Kalka | Shibhu | ||
| 1984 | Aasmaan | Doctor | |
| Kanoon Meri Mutthi Mein | |||
| Ram Tera Desh | Prakash | ||
| 1985 | Karmyudh | Rajesh | |
| Do Dilon Ki Dastaan | Kamal | ||
| Yudh | Inspector Bhargav | ||
| Baadal | Thakur Kiran Singh | ||
| Lallu Ram | Shankar/Raju | ||
| 1986 | Dilwaala | Mohan Kumar | |
| Shatru | Salim | ||
| 1987 | Maashuka | Arun Verma | |
| 1988 | Jai Karoli Maa | Madan | |
| 1989 | Bidhira Bidhan | Oriya film | |
| Pyari Dulhaniya | Bhojpuri film | ||
| 1991 | Edu Kondalaswamy | Lord Venkateswara | Telugu film |
| 1992 | Ramayana the legend of prince rama | Lord rama | voice only |
| 1993 | Govinda Govinda | Lord Venkateswara | Telugu film |
| Muqabla | Havaldar Satyaprakash | ||
| 1994 | Kanoon | Pankaj | Vishal's brother |
| 1995 | Shanivrat Mahima | Bhagwan Indra/ Lord Venkestwara |
|
| Hathkadi | Arun Chauhan | ||
| Buk Bhara Bhalobasha | Bengali film | ||
| 1996 | Great Robbery | Lord Venkateswara | Telugu film |
| 1997 | Dhaal: The Battle of Law Against Law | Inspector Deodhar | |
| Do Ankhen Barah Hath | |||
| Lav Kush | Laxmana | ||
| 2012 | Shiv Mahima | LORD SHIVA | |
| 2014 | Babul Pyaare | Pandit Hari Singh | Bhojpuri Film |
Television
- Vikram Aur Betaal
- Ramayan (1986-87)
- Luv Kush (1989)
- Kaise Kahoon (2001)
- Basera (2000)
- Ehsaas - Kahani Ek Ghar Ki
- Mashal (Doordarshan television serial)
- Phoolwanti (1992)
- Buddha (1996 Sony TV)
- Aparajita(DD National)
- Massian di Raat (Punjabi)(DD National)
- Jai Veer Hanuman
- Karawaas
- Zindagi Navrang hai
- Mrityunjay
- Pal Chhin (1999–2000)
- Sanjhi(2002 Zee TV)
- Supriya(Sab TV)
- Antaraal(DD)
- Hamara Apna ghar
- Gayatri Mahima (DD)
- Zindagi teri meri kahani hai(Sahara one)
- Jeet (Star plus)
- Antariksh (Star plus)
- Kartavya (Zee TV)
- Sarhadein
- wo hue na humaare (DD)
- Aparjita (DD)
- Vishwamitra (DD)
- Pyar ki kashti me(Star One)