Ramayan says if the wedding of Lord Ram and Sita had happened as per the pre-determined mahurat, the ‘Sita Haran’ would not have taken place … Ram, Sita and Lakshman would not have been sent on the 14 year vanvaas and the ultimate objective of Lord Rama vanquishing the evil Ravana would not have been achieved.

In an exciting revival of the once-popular phenomenon of ‘Sunday morning TV viewing for the entire family’, Zee TV launched the country’s most revered mythological series ‘Ramayan’ on Sunday, August 19 at 11am. Audiences have loved the show, with the very first episode opening up to great ratings across the world.  While the other characters were finalised well in advance, the quest for the perfect casting of Ram and Sita was on for months with several actors in the television fraternity auditioning for the lead roles. After months of speculation about who will land the much-coveted roles, the channel has announced that actors Gagan Malik and Neha Sargam have been roped in to play Lord Ram and Sita respectively. Actor Neil Bhatt who shot to fame as Abhi in Zee TV’s 12/24 Karol Bagh will be playing Lakshman. They will make their first appearance on the show in this Sunday’s episode (2^nd September) at 11am.

Ramayan is fundamental to the cultural fabric of India. Lord Ram and Sita are embodiments of the ideal son and the ideal wife. They have been enshrined over the centuries and worshipped, making the casting of Ram and Sita an extremely critical choice.

Gagan Malik is naturally excited about his upcoming role. He says “I am only beginning to fathom the immense responsibility entrusted to me while being signed on for the role of Ram. I consider myself deeply fortunate to have been selected for this prestigious role and would like to thank Zee TV for this lifetime opportunity. Playing Ram, unlike any other character I have played so far, requires a great deal of preparation, be it in terms of reading up on the finer nuances of the Ramcharitamanas or studying and imbibing everything that Ram stood for. As an actor, it will be my endeavor to get the body language, the demeanour, the tonal quality of my voice and the diction right. I am really hoping that the viewers will appreciate my work!”

The show’s leading lady Neha Sargam was last seen in a cameo on Zee TV’s ‘Punarvivaah’. Talking about her upcoming role as Sita, Neha says, “As a little girl, I remember my grandmother telling us stories from the ‘Ramayan’. She would tell us sisters about how each of us should strive to emulate Sita when we grow up. While I don’t know if I have been successful in emulating Sita’s virtues in my personal life, landing this role is the closest I will ever get to living out my granny’s dream for all of us. So I dedicate this role to my grandmother. I look forward to the day when my performance appeals so much to the audience that they only see me as Sita and shower me with love!”

In the two episodes of Ramayan that have been telecast so far, viewers have seen Dharti Mata approaching Lord Vishnu to put an end to Ravan’s terror in Manav Lok. Lord Vishnu assures her that he will soon assume a human form and relieve her from Ravan’s misdoings. In the meanwhile, Raja Dashrath (Saurabh Shukla) has won a war thanks to wife Kaikeyi (Shikha Swaroop). He thanks her from the bottom of his heart and grants her two wishes, which she humbly refuses. He announces that her wishes will be granted whenever she requests him in the future. A ‘Putra Prapti Yagya’ is organized whereby Vashishta feeds a special Kheer to Raja Dashrath’s three wives Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi who give birth to Lord Rama, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan. The second episode sees Ram and his siblings as 12 year olds. Kakbhushandi, the crow known to be the biggest devotee of Lord Vishnu, gets wind of the fact that Vishnu has assumed the form of young Ram and visits them in Ayodhya. Seeing the young boy being scolded by mother Kaushalya, Kakbhushandi is convinced that Ram is not Lord Vishnu incarnate. As the crow snatches a roti from Ram’s hands and begins to fly away, Ram’s hands begin to extend and follow him through all the Loks. Kakbhushandi realizes that Ram is indeed Lord Vishnu incarnate and profusely apologizes to him. The third episode on Sunday, 2^nd September will see the four brothers go to Gurukul and learn the lessons life under the tutelage of Vashishta and Guruma. Having finished their education and turned into accomplished young men, Ram (Gagan Malik), Lakshman (Neil Bhatt), Bharat and Shatrughan will return to Ayodhya where their father Raja dashrath and their queen mothers eagerly await their return.

Watch the Ramayan, an eternal classic, every Sunday at 11 AM, only on Zee TV – Sky 788.

When one thinks of a show on Ramayan, every actor would vie to play the title role of Lord Rama. Actor Neil Bhatt, who wowed viewers as the male lead Abhi in Zee TV’s 12/24 Karol Bagh, is no exception. The actor confesses that when he was approached for Ramayan, he was keen to be cast as Ram. “As an actor, it is only natural to want the meatiest role that allows one to fully showcase his range of histrionics. So while I was definitely more keen to be cast as Ram at first, I now clearly see that it is all three – Ram, Sita and Lakshman who are the key protagonists of Ramayan and the role holds ample scope for me to perform as an actor.”  

Neil Bhatt is currently using his time to read the Ramcharitmanas and capture the finer nuances of the great epic and more specifically, his role. He is also investing time and energy into getting into his finest form for the role as he shortly begins shooting in Baroda. His regimen includes Power Yoga, Pilates and intensive cardiovascular training. Neil has also acquainted himself with his extensive wardrobe and elaborate make-up for the role of Lakshman. It presently takes him over an hour and a half to get fully ready but the actor plans to master the art of getting his look together in less than 30 minutes before he starts shooting so that he minimizes time wastage on the sets.  

Neil Bhatt added, “I am told I was cast as Lakshman because I had the lean, athletic physicality required for the role. Also this show will not have archaic, difficult-to-grasp Hindi dialogues. The language will be kept simple and lucid. This, I think will aid us as actors in connecting better with our audiences as you can emote with better conviction when you feel the lines! Moreover, everybody will be able to quickly relate to the characters and not feel alienated by language they do not use.”

With many editions of Ramayan show on TV previously, what response did he get for the premiere of the show on Sunday, August 12? “The show has opened up to a very positive response. The music by the ace composer Ravindra Jain has been widely appreciated and the soundtrack of the show is simply outstanding. The make-up team must also be commended for an extremely proficient job…one can see it in the look given to Lord Vishnu. The casting, authenticity of the sets, the first-rate cinematography and the catchy visual effects only add sheen to the content. We are working hard to showcase this epic in a manner that gets families to sit together on a Sunday morning and learn from it, besides being entertained…wish us luck!” Neil ends.

Watch Zee TV’s epic ‘Ramayan’ from 19 August, Sundays 11am.

Come August 19, Sunday mornings will never be the same again! In an exciting revival of the once-popular phenomenon of Sunday morning TV viewing for the whole family, Zee TV, World’s leading Hindi General Entertainment Channel (GEC), will premiere the country’s most revered mythological series, Ramayan, at 11am.

A timeless classic based on Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas,  Ramayan shows viewers a way of life … it is rich in the core values, ideals and principles that form the crux of Indian culture and upbringing. Centuries after the original epic was first written, its relevance in contemporary times remains unquestioned. The jet-setting, smartphone-toting denizens of the Twitter age can benefit immensely from applying its learnings to their lives!

Virad Kaul, Territory Head, Zee Europe said, “Ramayan is a way of life to most Indian families. The cultural roots of Indian families across Europe have the teachings of Ramayan engraved in their lives. By bringing Ramayan to our European audiences we endeavor to recreate the exuberance along with the subtleties of the mythology closest to our hearts. By showcasing Ramayan on a Sunday morning, we wish to engage the entire family, right from grandparents to the young in the house, in a joint TV viewing experience.”

Zee TV’s Ramayan will be a grand recreation of the original epic and will thrive on authenticity of representation. Neil Bhatt, who played the lead in Zee TV’s 12/24 Karol Bagh, will be seen as the devoted brother Lakshman while Shikha Swaroop, the former beauty queen-turned-actress will reveal shades of grey as Kaikeyee. Actor Rishabh Shukla will step into the shoes of King Dashrath, Lord Rama’s father.

In a most unique innovation in the digital space, Zee TV is all set to create a virtual temple on its official website that will let devotees perform an online aarti at the click and drag of a mouse. Ramayan will also have interactive apps on social networking websites to ensure a good connect with the younger demographics.

Ramayan premieres on Zee TV at 11am on Sunday, 19 August.