Actor Sunil Lahri, known for his role as Lakshman in the epic series ‘Ramayan’, recently reflected on one of the most challenging sequences from the show.
On Monday, he shared a video on Instagram, discussing the iconic kevat scene. In the video, he expressed, “Jai Ram Ji ki! You all must be familiar with this sequence from ‘Ramayana’. Shooting this sequence was not that easy. It was very difficult. We shot this sequence in a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius. In this scene, when we got down from the boat, Ramanand Sagar wanted us to walk barefoot in the scorching sun and sand. Think about it, to walk barefoot on the sand, in the scorching sun.”
He continued, “We requested him, ‘Please, can we use footwear?’ He refused. Maybe it was Ram Ji’s wish. We walked barefoot on the scorching sand, and we got bruises on our feet. We couldn’t even wear our shoes properly. It was very painful and difficult. But your love and respect made us forget all the difficulties. Keep this love and respect. Thank you very much. Jai Shree Ram.”
‘Ramayan’ stands as one of Indian television’s most defining cultural moments. The series, which aired on Doordarshan, transformed Sunday mornings into a cherished ritual across the nation, with families gathering around their TV sets while streets cleared. Based on Valmiki’s epic, it narrates the story of Lord Ram with devotion, moral clarity, and simplicity, making it accessible to all ages and regions.
Arun Govil’s calm and dignified portrayal of Ram and Deepika Chikhalia’s serene Sita became iconic, blurring the line between actor and deity in the public’s imagination. The restrained production, traditional dialogues, and reverent pacing reinforced the epic’s spiritual significance rather than just providing spectacle.
Beyond mere entertainment, ‘Ramayan’ played a crucial role in shaping collective memory, religious consciousness, and the history of television in India.