Arun Govil criticises Adipurush makers for controversial tactics and audience manipulation

Renowned actor Arun Govil, celebrated for his portrayal of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's iconic television series Ramayan, recently voiced his concerns regarding the upcoming film Adipurush. He expressed his disapproval of the film's makers resorting to various tactics, such as engaging with BJP ministers and reserving seats for Lord Hanuman in theaters, in an attempt to ensure the film's success.

Govil found it perplexing why there was a need to tamper with deities and experiment with a text as sacred as the Ramayana. In an interview with a news portal, he emphasized the sensitivity of Indians towards their religion, emphasizing that liberties should not be taken with matters concerning God.

"Why do they want to fool around? Why do they want to bring new, new things, to try new things? Leave us alone. What is the need to meddle with God and his story? Please don't do that," Govil says, expressing his concerns.


The actor urged filmmakers to explore other subjects where they could exercise their creative freedom and experiment, rather than tampering with the revered epic of Ramayana in such a manner.

Furthermore, Govil speculated that the makers of Adipurush must have anticipated the negative reaction following the release of the film's teaser and trailer. Consequently, they began employing strategies like meeting chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and reserving a seat for Lord Hanuman in every show of the film, aiming to garner attention and mitigate potential backlash.

He surmised that these tactics indicated a lack of confidence on the part of the filmmakers, suggesting that they were aware that something could go wrong. Govil compared their actions to those of a common man or a businessman resorting to similar strategies to safeguard themselves.

Directed by Om Raut, Adipurush features Prabhas in the role of Lord Rama, Kriti Sanon as Goddess Sita, Sunny Singh as Laxman, and Saif Ali Khan portraying Ravana. The film has been the subject of much anticipation and discussion, but Govil's criticism brings attention to the controversial methods employed by its makers, prompting a wider conversation about the appropriate treatment of religious texts and figures in cinema.