Arun Govil

2021-06-25T13:15:30Z

2409:4072:81B:DD45:65B3:3F82:D759:F667: /* Television */ The series Vishwamitra aired in 1989 and it was erroneously shown here are 1994 which I corrected.

{{short description|Indian actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Arun Govil
| image = ArunGovil.jpg
| caption = Govil in 2009
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|01|12|df=y}}<ref name=":2" />
| birth_place = [[Meerut]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| nationality = Indian
| alma_mater = [[Chaudhary Charan Singh University]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|producer}}
| years_active = 1977–present
| known_for = [[Shri Ram]] in<br>[[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|Ramayan (1987)]]
| spouse = Shrilekha Govil
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| children = 2
| relatives = [[Tabassum (actress)|Tabassum]] (sister-in-law)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/i-never-became-a-big-heroine-tabassum/20141029.htm|title=Nargis, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Suraiya... they all loved me|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref>
}}
'''Arun Govil''' (born 12 January 1958) is an [[India]]n actor, producer and politician.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/birthday-wishes-amit-navina-yash-and-arun|title=Birthday wishes for Amit, Navina, Yash and Arun|date=2012-10-30|website= Tellychakkar Dot Com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/people/arun-govil-10221|title=Arun Govil movies, filmography, biography and songs - Cinestaan.com|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2018-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodmdb.com/celebrities/arun-govil/6141|title=Arun Govil - BollywoodMDB|website=www.bollywoodmdb.com|language=en|access-date=2018-04-01}}</ref> He has acted in [[Hindi]], [[Bhojpuri]], [[Braj Bhasha]], [[Odia language|Odia]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu]] films. He is best known for playing Lord [[Rama]] in [[Ramanand Sagar]]'s hit television series ''[[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|Ramayan]]'' (1987).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/I-would-never-regret-playing-lord-Ram-Arun-Govil/articleshow/17609352.cms|title=I would never regret playing lord Ram: Arun Govil - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/arun-govil-the-first-ram/story-iKYVwcBwMKdhiw6mfY3o3O.html|title=Arun Govil: the first Ram|date=2014-10-18|website=www.hindustantimes.com|access-date=2018-11-10|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.friendsofprasarbharati.org/2014/july/J26.htm|title=Recent news|website=www.friendsofprasarbharati.org|access-date=2018-11-10}}</ref>
He made his [[Bollywood]] debut in [[Prashanta Nanda]]'s ''[[Paheli (1977 film)|Paheli]]'' (1977).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/paheli-4741|title=Paheli (1977) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos {{!}} Cinestaan|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2018-11-10}}</ref> He shot to stardom after he was cast in Kanak Mishra's ''[[Sawan Ko Aane Do]]'' (1979) and Satyen Bose's ''[[Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin]]'' (1979).<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/sawan-ko-aane-do-5029|title=Sawan Ko Aane Do (1979) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos {{!}} Cinestaan|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2018-11-10}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/saanch-ko-aanch-nahin-4962|title=Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin (1979) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos {{!}} Cinestaan|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2018-11-10}}</ref> He made his small screen debut in [[Ramanand Sagar]]'s ''[[Vikram Aur Betaal]]'' (1985).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/vikram-aur-betaal-it-was-great-storytelling-with-a-twist/story-0oiq7ZcvrkkgQqNFJMi0FN.html|title=Vikram Aur Betaal: It was great storytelling with a twist|date=2016-05-12|website=www.hindustantimes.com|access-date=2018-11-10|language=en}}</ref> He was then cast as Lord [[Rama]] in [[Ramanand Sagar|Sagar]]'s TV series ''[[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|Ramayan]]'' (1986), for which he won the Uptron Award in the Best Actor in a Leading Role category in 1988.<ref name=":0" /> He reprised his role as [[Rama]] in [[Ramanand Sagar|Sagar]]'s ''[[Luv Kush]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4E0DC6FA3D54BCBA|title=Luv Kush, Uttar Ramayan episodes|website=www.youtube.com|access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref>

His role as [[Rama]] provided him great exposure and led him to be cast in other roles such as [[Harishchandra]] in the TV series ''Vishwamitra'' or [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] in the TV series ''Buddha''. He lent his voice as [[Rama]] in [[Yugo Sako]]'s Indo-Japanese animation film ''[[Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama]]'' (1992).<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama-37637|title=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama (Released) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos {{!}} Cinestaan|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref> He also played the role of [[Laxman]] in [[V. Madhusudhan Rao]]'s ''[[Lav Kush]]'' (1997).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/lav-kush-8148|title=Lav Kush (1997) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos {{!}} Cinestaan|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref>

==Early life==
Arun Govil was born on 12 January 1958 in [[Meerut]], [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.pagalparrot.com/arun-govil-daughter-sonika-govil/|title=Remember Arun Govil Who Played Ram In The First Ever 'Ramayana'? His Daughter Is All Grown Up Now!|date=2018-01-16|work=PagalParrot|access-date=2018-11-11|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111133956/https://www.pagalparrot.com/arun-govil-daughter-sonika-govil/|archive-date=11 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{better|reason=Not a reliable mainstream source.|date=March 2021}} He got his formal education at [[Chaudhary Charan Singh University]], [[Meerut]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], where he studied engineering science and acted in some plays.<ref name=":2" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />

==Career==
In 1975, He moved to [[Mumbai]] to join his brother's business there. After a short while, he found that he no longer enjoyed the work and decided to find something more enjoyable.<ref name=":0" /> After doing dramas in college he decided to start acting. 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 (actress)|Tabassum]].<ref name=":3" /> Barjatya was really impressed by Govil's performance in the film and he signed him a three-film-deal — Kanak Mishra's ''[[Sawan Ko Aane Do]]'' (1979), Vijay Kapoor's ''[[Raadha Aur Seeta]]'' (1979) and Satyen Bose's ''[[Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin]]'' (1979). ''[[Sawan Ko Aane Do]]'' became a major success at box office catapulting Govil to stardom.<ref name=":4" /> ''[[Raadha Aur Seeta]]'' was a box office failure while ''[[Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin]]'' was another success at box office.<ref name=":6" /> He featured in Kanak Mishra's ''[[Jiyo To Aise Jiyo]]'' (1981).

[[Ramanand Sagar]] cast Govil as [[Vikramaditya]] in his television series ''[[Vikram Aur Betaal]]'' and [[Rama]] in ''[[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|Ramayan]]''.
{{quote box
|author = — Govil on his portrayal of [[Rama]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/jan/12/10381/arun-govil-aka-ram-people-touch-my-feet-even-30-years-after-ramayan|title=Arun Govil aka Ram: People touch my feet even 30 years after Ramayan|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2018-11-10}}</ref>
|quote = "When I came to know they are making ''Ramayan'', I said I would like to play Ram. It came to my mind that I should play that character. But I didn't say that because I thought it would be great for my career. The project was such that I felt like doing it. But it proved to be a very important milestone in my career and life. People still know me as Ram. Even in places like airport, they touch my feet. It's been happening since more than 30 years. It is still stuck in people's minds. Not only the older generation, but also the new generation has seen it. It has gone into the history of not only Indian television, but also the Indian psyche."
|bgcolor = #edf3ee
|align = right
|salign = right
|width = 16em
}}
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 [[Bengali language|Bengali]] movies like ''Bidhir Bidhan'' (1989) and many [[Telugu language|Telugu]] movies like ''Edu Kondalaswamy'' (1991), ''Govindha Govindha'' (1993), ''The Great Robbery'' (1996) and ''Aa re Kaaliya''. He has also got an opportunity to anchor a show on lord Ram, ''Jahan Jahan Ram Charan Chali Jaahi''. He also lent his voice in Hindi version 1992 mythological Indo-Japanese animation movie ''[[Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama]]'' as [[Rama]].<ref name=":5" />In the year 2020, he appeared on [[The Kapil Sharma Show]] as a guest along with [[Dipika Chikhlia]] , [[Sunil Lahri]] and Prem Sagar to promote book on Late [[Ramanand Sagar]].

On March 18, 2021 he joined the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|Bhartiya Janata Party]] setting foot in politics.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-18|title=Arun Govil of Ramayana fame joins BJP|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/arun-govil-of-ramayana-fame-joins-bjp-7234571/|access-date=2021-03-19|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Arun's father, Shri Chandra Prakash Govil, was a government officer. Arun is the fourth of six brothers and two sisters. His elder brother Vijay Govil is married to [[Tabassum (actress)|Tabassum]], a former child actress and the host of the first [[Bollywood]] Celebrity talk show on [[Doordarshan]] ''[[Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan (TV series)|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). Govil is married to actress Shrilekha, with whom he has a son (Amal) and a daughter (Sonika).<ref name=":1" /> His son Amal and daughter in law Divya have 2 children, a son (Aryaveer) and a daughter (Ariana).

==Filmography==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year !! Film !! Character !! Notes
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1977|1977]]
|''[[Paheli (1977 film)|Paheli]]''
|Balram
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Bollywood films of 1979|1979]]
|''[[Sawan Ko Aane Do]]''
|Birju
|
|-
|''[[Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin]]''
|Ajay S. Agarwal
|
|-
|''[[Raadha Aur Seeta]]''
|Shekhar Verma
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Bollywood films of 1980|1980]]
|''[[Judaai (1980 film)|Judaai]]''
|Umakant S. Verma
|
|-
|''Ganga Dham''
|Mohan
|
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Bollywood films of 1981|1981]]
|''[[Jiyo To Aise Jiyo]]''
|Kundan Sharma
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/jiyo-to-aise-jiyo-5342/cast-crew|title=Jiyo To Aise Jiyo (1981) Cast - Actor, Actress, Director, Producer, Music Director {{!}} Cinestaan|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2018-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/movies/jiyo-to-aise-jiyo/3240|website=www.bollywoodmdb.com|title=Jiyo To Aise Jiyo|access-date=2018-10-28}}</ref>
|-
|''Itni Si Baat''
|Anand
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/itni-si-baat-5279|title=Itni Si Baat (1981) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos {{!}} Cinestaan|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref>
|-
|''Shradhanjali''
|Raju Kumar
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/shradhanjali-5233|title=Shradhanjali (1981) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos {{!}} Cinestaan|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Commander (1981 film)|Commander]]''
|Rakesh Kumar
|
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Bollywood films of 1982|1982]]
|''Gumsum''
|Shankar
|
|-
|''[[Ayaash]]''
|Amal
|
|-
|''[[Sasural (1984 film)|Sasural]]''
|Narendra
|
|-
|''Jawalaa Dahej Ki''
|
|
|-
|''[[Brij Bhoomi(film)|Brij Bhoomi]]''
|
|[[Braj Bhasha]] dialect film
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Bollywood films of 1983|1983]]
|''[[Lal Chunariya]]''
|
|
|-
|''[[Himmatwala (1983 film)|Himmatwala]]''
|Govind
|
|-
|''[[Justice Chaudhury]]''
|Inspector Ramesh Chaudhary
|
|-
|''[[Kalka]]''
|Shibhu
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Bollywood films of 1984|1984]]
|''[[Aasmaan]]''
|Doctor
|
|-
|''[[Kanoon Meri Mutthi Mein]]''
|
|
|-
|''Ram Tera Desh''
|Prakash
|
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Bollywood films of 1985|1985]]
|''[[Karm Yudh]]''
|Rajesh
|
|-
|''[[Do Dilon Ki Dastaan (1985 film)|Do Dilon Ki Dastaan]]''
|Kamal
|
|-
|''[[Yudh (film)|Yudh]]''
|Inspector Bhargav
|
|-
|''[[Baadal]]''
|Thakur Kiran Singh
|
|-
|''Lallu Ram''
|Shankar/Raju
|
|-
|1986
|''Devar Bhabi''
|in Hindi & Bhojpuri
|Actresses Shoma Anand (Hindi) & Upaasna Singh(Bhojpuri)
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Bollywood films of 1986|1986]]
|''[[Dilwaala]]''
|Mohan Kumar
|
|-
|''[[Shatru]]''
|Salim
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1987|1987]]
|''Maashuka''
|Arun Verma
|
|-
|1988
|''[[Jai Karoli Maa]]''
|Madan
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1989
|''[[Bidhir Bidhan (Film)]]''
|
|Bengali film
|-
|''Pyari Dulhaniya''
|
|Bhojpuri film
|-
|1991
|''[[Edu Kondalaswamy]]''
|[[Venkateswara|Lord Venkateswara]]
|Telugu film
|-
|rowspan="2"|1992
|''[[Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama]]''
|[[Rama|Lord Rama]]
|voice only
|-
|''[[Shiv Mahima]]''
|[[Lord Shiva]]
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1993
|''[[Govinda Govinda]]''
|[[Venkateswara|Lord Venkateswara]]
|Telugu film
|-
|''[[Muqabla (1993 film)|Muqabla]]''
|Havaldar Satyaprakash
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1994|1994]]
|''[[Kanoon_(1994_film) | Kanoon]]''
|Pankaj
|Vishal's brother
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Bollywood films of 1995|1995]]
|''[[Shanivrat Mahima]]''
|[[Indra|Bhagwan Indra]]/<br>[[Venkateswara|Lord Venkestwara]]
|
|-
|''[[Haathkadi (1995 film)|Hathkadi]]''
|Arun Chauhan
|
|-
|''[[Buk Bhara Bhalobasha]]''
|Soumitra Dutt
|Bengali film
|-
|1996
|''[[Great Robbery]]''
|[[Venkateswara|Lord Venkateswara]]
|Telugu film
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Bollywood films of 1997|1997]]
|''[[Dhaal]]''
|Inspector Deodhar
|
|-
|''[[Do Ankhen Barah Hath]]''
|
|
|-
|''[[Lav Kush (film)|Lav Kush]]''
|[[Laxmana]]
|
|-
|''1997''
|Gaon Desh
|Bade Chaudhary
|Bhojpuri Film
|-
|1999
|''[[Upendra (film)|Upendra]]''
|Raja Vikramaditya
|Kannada Film
|-
| 2006
|''Babul Pyaare''
|Pandit Hari Singh
|Bhojpuri Film
|-
|}

==Television==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Serial !! Role !! Channel !! Notes
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Vikram Aur Betaal]]'' || King Vikramaditya || [[DD National]] ||
|-
| 1987-1988 || ''[[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|Ramayan]]'' || Shri Ram || [[DD National]] ||
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Luv Kush]]'' || Shri Ram || [[DD National]] ||
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Vishwamitra (1995 TV Series)|Vishwamitra]]'' || Raja Harishchandra || [[DD National]] ||
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Phoolwanti (TV Series)|Phoolwanti]]'' || Pandit Vankatesh Shastri || [[DD National]] ||
|-
| 1994-95 || ''[[Mashaal (TV series)|Mashaal]]'' || Ajay || [[DD National]] ||
|-
|1996- 1997
|Buddha
|Buddha
|[[DD National]]
|
|-
| 1998-1999 || ''[[Aashiqui (TVseries)|Aashiqui]]'' || ||[[DD National]]
|
|-
| 1999-2000 || ''[[Pal Chhin]]'' || Pratap Singh || [[Star Plus]] ||
|-
| 2000-2001 || ''[[Basera (2000 TV series)|Basera]]'' || || [[Zee TV]] ||
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Kaise Kahoon]]'' || Zaheer Ahmed || [[Zee TV]] ||
|-
| 2002 || ''Saanjhi''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020203/spectrum/tv.htm|title=The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Television|website=www.tribuneindia.com|date=3 February 2002|access-date=7 June 2020}}</ref> || Amar || [[Zee TV]] ||
|-
| 2003 || ''[[Ehsaas|Ehsaas - Kahani Ek Ghar Ki]]'' || || [[DD National]] ||
|-
| 2003|| ''[[Gayatri mahima ]]'' || Rishi Chavan ||[[DD National]]
|
|-
| 2020 || ''[[The Kapil Sharma Show]]'' || Self || [[Sony Tv]] ||
|-
| 2020 || ''Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs'' || Self || [[Zee Tv]] || ||
|}

== See also ==

* [[List of Indian television actors]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|4468244|Arun Govil}}
*{{Twitter|Arungovil12}}
*[https://arungovil.in/ Arun Govil Official Website]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Govil, Arun}}
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Bengali cinema]]
[[Category:Indian male television actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:People from Meerut]]
[[Category:Chaudhary Charan Singh University alumni]]

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Arun Govil