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Shrimad Ramayan has been one of the most loved shows on television ever since its debut in January this year. The show which presents the epic Ramayana became a hit in no time among viewers across the globe. We had the opportunity to chat to Nikitin Dheer who essays the role of Ravan on the show. He opened up on what goes into playing a larger than life role like Ravan, and also shares whats to come after the show!
When embarking on Shrimad Ramayan, how did you plan on bringing a fresh perspective to a historical figure like Ravana?
I’m a Mahadev bhakt (devotee) and I think every Mahadev bhakt is enamoured and intrigued by Ravan. There is no bigger bhakt than Ravan, there never was, and there never will be. It’s said even Bajrang Bali wasn’t a bigger devotee than Ravan, because Ravan is someone who cut his heads off for Mahadev. He would do abhishek with his blood. His intensity of love for his Isht (favourite deity) was unparalleled. So I had read books about him. There’s a book by Anand Neelakantan called ‘Asura’, there is a different take of what happened, because over time Ramayan has versions; modern versions, southern versions, western versions, eastern versions within India. So every version is slightly different and it provides insight to the character and the life of Ravan. Then there is a book I read called ‘Ravan Sanhita’ which was originally in Sanskrit and apparently that book is something that was said by Hanuman ji himself, which says the last words of Ravan which he told Lakshman and Ram before he died. So I had read all these books and I was always enamoured by the character, so I think that somehow has helped me get this and all of this happened before I got the role of Ravan, so somewhere I feel a kind of a manifestation has happened that I have been able to do this role.
What aspects of Ravana’s character did you find most challenging or intriguing to portray so far?
The basic difference between Shri Ram and Ravan is that Ravan is an extreme of every emotion; every emotion is to the max. Be it love, hate, lust, fear, all of that. He feels an extreme and Shri Ram is balanced, everything is very stoic about him. Whatever he feels is within him, stays within him. So to play a character like this which is so vibrant and full of emotions, I think it unlocks parts of you as an actor that is both very difficult, and once you are able to reach there it opens you up as an actor and your insights as a human being as well. I feel everything about him is very intriguing to play and you know he was the alpha of alphas, so the way he looked at life and the way he believed he could achieve everything through his power of will, I think is very inspiring especially in today’s day and age.
Ravana is often portrayed as a multifaceted character with negative and even some positive traits. How did you plan to balance these aspects in your portrayal?
I think the plan to portray Ravan has always been to be as honest as I can as an actor, and I think my producer Siddharth Kumar Tewary had a similar vision that Ramayan has been shown on television and OTT several times and by several different people. I think I am the 28th or 29th actor to be playing Ravan, and the plan was to show something to the audience that they have heard from their dadis, their nanis and elders at home, but they haven’t seen on television and we would like to show them that. And that is exactly how we approached it, to show Ravan, the greatest villain, the greatest Brahmin, the greatest Bhakt, a great brother, a great friend, all of the aspects that demonise and humanise him at the same time. That is why Ravan always claimed that Ravan has come once and there will never be another Ravan again. A leader, king, bhakt, and a Brahmin like him will never come again.
During this journey of playing Ravan, how do you maintain a balance in day-to-day life, especially since Ravan is a role which requires a lot of mental commitment?
We shoot in Umbergaon in Gujarat, and owing to the traffic, its quite tedious going back and forth but I think we managed a system after every few days of shoot, I do go home for a while, spend time with my little one, spend time with my family, my friends and just kind of reboot and I come back. And it’s a very solitary environment here when you’re working but like you said, Ravan needs that kind of commitment and on a daily basis you strive to bring forth the Bhakt part of him, which means lot of mantras, lot of Sanksrit. Even in his scenes, a different kind of a dedication is required to achieve the fluidity so I think the alienation works and helps.
How has playing Ravan influenced or changed your perspective on acting, not just in the historical genre but overall?
I think working in a historical show like Ramayan where you play characters that are larger than life, from the language, to the costumes because it’s a costume drama, you playing a character that is based in Treta Yuga. Everything is difficult from the get-go so I think it opens aspects of you as an actor and unlocks you on so many levels that after this, if you approach characters that are based in today’s times, are contemporary, the language seems easier, and everything seems easier. So I feel roles such as these only make you a better actor and improve your arc as an actor. The way you think, the way you conceive things in your own mind changes immensely.
Ravan’s conclusion is not too far away on Shrimad Ramayan. How would you describe the journey so far on the show and working with a visionary like Siddharth Kumar Tewary?
It has been an absolute honour to work with Mr Siddharth Kumar Tewary who is a friend, is a brother and somebody I have known for over a decade, and we have meant to collaborate on earlier occasions but it didn’t see fruition and finally it did with Ravan, and I’m extremely thankful and grateful that it did because I think the way he has conceived Ravan, and the way we have been able to bring him to life, I don’t think it has ever happened earlier. Usually people love to hate him but on our show people love to love him. We have people coming on our sets and actually requesting the team to not show his death, which I think is the greatest reward for me as an actor. So I owe it all to Siddharth and his vision and the way he has allowed me to approach it on a daily basis. And the fluidity that he has allowed me on a creative level, I think the amalgamation of all of that is what you see on-screen.
You have a Kannada film, Martin, coming up this year. Could you give us some hints about what we can expect from your character there?
Well ‘Martin’ is a very high-octane, action-packed Kannada film. It is very slick and the character I play is a very suave businessman who looks extremely clean but is not. He is very sharp and harsh at the same time. I think it’s very interesting, something I haven’t done earlier and I think the overall film also has a feel which is a little different and I’m really waiting to see how audiences take it in cinemas and I hope they like it.
Apart from ‘Martin,’ can we expect to see you on other projects too after Shrimad Ramayan?
I have a couple of very interesting projects coming up, about which I shall speak in due course. I’m really excited about them as well. After Ramayan, I shall be starting on that as well, so yes, lots to look forward to by the grace of God!
Finally a message for all your fans and viewers of Shrimad Ramayan worldwide?
I would like to thank each and every fan of Ramayan and everybody who has liked my work as Ravan. I have received innumerable messages over my Instagram and Twitter, mainly Instagram because I think that’s where I’m more active, and so much encouragement from people of all ages. It has just been the greatest tonic to move forward. I just need blessings from you all. And the way you all have loved Ramayan, I hope in the last leg of Ramayan also we receive the blessings from all of you. Just a huge huge huge thank you! Taking on this role at this point and this juncture in my career has been a huge gamble. I just went with my gut and I am just thankful to the Almighty that the audiences have not only liked him but loved him and they have loved him with all their heart. They have given me so many blessings so I think it’s a great feeling. And the fact that logon ko aisa lagta hai ki Ravan itna bhi bura nahi tha (people feel Ravan wasn’t that bad) is the greatest victory for me as an actor because that’s what we wanted to show, that the Ramayan was a difference of opinion and in Kali Yuga, Ravan’s importance is very different so I think a lot of people identify with Ravan far more in Kali Yuga. So yes, thank you, thank you all!
It has been an honour chatting to Nikitin Dheer who has won all our hearts with his fine performance as Ravan. Wishing him the best for the final leg of Shrimad Ramayan and beyond!
