People think I look like Mahadev : Gagan

In the past, Ramayan has been telecast on television twice over. This time around, the tall and strapping Delhiite Gagan Malik who was last seen in a major role in Shakuntala and has played important roles in Kumkum Ek Pyaara Sa Bandhan and Saath Banaayenge Ek Aashiyaan slips into the coveted shoes of Lord Ram.


You've done two mythological shows — Shakuntala and now Sabke Jeevan Ka Aadhar - Ramayan. Do you have a special inclination towards these shows?
Well, I have done daily soaps too. I want to do all kinds of shows.

Was doing a mythology show always top of your mind?
Not really. I had also been selected for the role of Krishna in the past, but unfortunately things didn't work out. I have no connection with mythology, but my mom seems to have them. I feel I have got this role only because of her. My mom has written ram ram 200 crore times and kept fast during Navratris and read Ramayan for 200 times. I am also wrapped up the film Siddhartha The Buddha.

You take an hour to get ready for his character. Isn't that very cumbersome?
There are certain problems (headaches, cuts, back aches) that I face while dressing up for my character, but these problems are nothing in comparison to the kind of role I am doing.

Have you read the Ramayan?
I have seen Ramayan on TV when I was a child. Mom also used to read the epic to me. However, I have just started reading it now and Ram is my favourite character.

Ram has been played by Gurmeet Choudhary and Arun Govil in the past. Are you wary of the comparisons?
You'll be surprised to hear that people have complimented me that after Arun, now there is someone who can play the character of Ram well. I feel people shouldn't compare two actors at all. See we are creating awareness about an epic and that's what matters the most.

There are also hints that you resemble Mohit Raina, who is currently essaying Shiv in Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev. Do you feel you look like him?
No. I don't think so. But people are calling and telling my mom that they saw me in Mahadev. That's funny!

What do you think grabs maximum eyeballs on TV?
It's tough to say that. There was a time when saas bahu sagas ruled, then came love stories, reality shows and now it is the turn of mythology shows.

TV actors tend to get typecast easily.
Only age might create limitations for an actor. Gurmeet played the role of Ram, and then went to do play the lead in daily soaps. If someone plays an epic hero in one show and a baddie in his next, then the audience might not like it, but in the end it's about creative choices.

We hear you were a professional cricketer too?
If I wasn't an actor, I would have been a cricketer. I even played for the Ranji Trophy team in Delhi and then gave it all up for a career on TV.

TFS, but I kind of don't like his attitude. He seems to think he's on the same level as Arun Govil (he brought him up twice in the past too) and doesn't consider Gurmeet worthy of his respect. Of course, he said "people" but that remark of his about how after Arun Govil, people think now there is someone who can play the character of Ram well was unneeded and made him unprofessional. It would have been more courteous to say he doesn't like comparisons and has respect for the two actors who played Ram before him.

Edited by JanakiRaghunath - 10 September 2012 at 7:13am

yaa gagan in my outlook also u r only who can play the role of ram in 2012 other than u nobody is able to play this role. when u smiles u really looks like "lord rama is smiling".

thanks a lot...i like gagan as ram...physique wise he looks like a perfect ram  tall dark and handsome...intially i felt that he looks similar to mohit but not anymore they are way different from each other...all the best gagan...u r good as ram..no complains regarding the choice of protogonist only if the ph could be little better...seriously these ppl need to work on graphics animation script writing direction... the cast can do wonders

oh i totally skipped that gagan dear its good if some ppl said that after Arun someone can play the character of ram but there are other ppl too who think guru did handsome job too(including me)....i hope next time u would consider that too

Edited by arti07 - 10 September 2012 at 9:13am