View source for Arun Govil

{{Short description|Indian actor and politician (born 1952)}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Arun Govil
| image               = File:Arun Govil.jpg
| office              = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| constituency        = [[Meerut Lok Sabha constituency|Meerut]]
| term_start          = 4 June 2024
| majority            = 
| predecessor         = [[Rajendra Agrawal]]
| successor           = 
| party               = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|12 January 1952|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Meerut]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| nationality         = [[Indian]]
| spouse              = Shrilekha Govil
| children            = 2
| alma_mater          = [[Agra University]]
| parents             = 
| occupation          = Actor, politician
| relations           = [[Tabassum]] (sister-in-law)
}}

'''Arun Govil''' ({{IPAc-en|ɑː|ˈ|r|uː|n|_|ˈ|ɡ|oʊ|v|ɪ|l}} {{respell|GOH-vil}}; {{IPA|hi|əɾʊɳ goːʋɪl|lang}}; born 12 January 1952) is an Indian actor and politician from the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. He is best known for portraying [[Lord Rama]] in the ''[[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|Ramayan]]'' TV series and reprising his role as [[Lord Rama]] (voice acting) in the 1993 animated film, [[Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama]].  He also appeared in films like ''[[Paheli (1977 film)|Paheli]]'' (1977), ''[[Sawan Ko Aane Do]]'' (1979), ''[[Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin]]'' (1979), ''[[Jiyo To Aise Jiyo]]'' (1981), ''[[Himmatwala (1983 film)|Himmatwala]]'' (1983), ''[[Dilwaala]]'' (1986), and ''[[Govinda Govinda (1994 film)|Govinda Govinda]]'' (1994). He is currently serving as a [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]] to [[Meerut Lok Sabha constituency]] from June 2024.

==Early life==
Arun Govil was born on 12 January 1952, in [[Meerut]], [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/people/arun-govil-10221|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402040905/https://www.cinestaan.com/people/arun-govil-10221|url-status=live|archive-date=2 April 2018|title=Arun Govil movies, filmography, biography and songs - Cinestaan.com|website=Cinestaan|access-date=1 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodmdb.com/celebrities/arun-govil/6141|title=Arun Govil - BollywoodMDB|website=www.bollywoodmdb.com|language=en|access-date=1 April 2018}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=Not a reliable mainstream source.|date=March 2021}}  He spent his teenage life in [[Shahjahanpur]], Uttar Pradesh. He got his formal education at an affiliated college of [[Agra University]] situated in Shahjahanpur, where he studied science (BSc degree).<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 April 2024 |title=Ahead of contesting Meerut elections, Arun Govil in debt of Rs 14 lakh; A look at Ramayan actor's assets and qualifications |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/ahead-of-contesting-meerut-elections-arun-govil-in-debt-of-rs-14-lakh-a-look-at-ramayan-actors-assets-and-qualifications/articleshow/108999349.cms |access-date=6 April 2024 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> His father wanted him to become a government servant while Arun wanted to do something for which he would be remembered.<ref name=":0" />

Arun's father, Chandraprakash Govil, was a government officer. Arun is the fourth of six brothers and two sisters. His elder brother Vijay Govil was married to [[Tabassum]], a former child actress and the host of the first [[Bollywood]] celebrity talk show on [[Doordarshan]]  ''[[Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan (TV series)|Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan]]'', which continued for 21 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/i-never-became-a-big-heroine-tabassum/20141029.htm|title=Nargis, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Suraiya... they all loved me|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref>

==Career==
In 1975, He moved to [[Mumbai]] to join his brother's business there. After a short while, he found that he no longer enjoyed the work and decided to find something more enjoyable.<ref name=":0" /> After doing dramas in college he decided to start acting. Govil got his first break in [[Indian cinema]] in the 1977 film ''[[Paheli (2005 film)|Paheli]]'', when he was introduced to [[Tarachand Barjatya]] by his sister-in-law [[Tabassum (actress)|Tabassum]].<ref name=":3" />
He made his Bollywood debut in  [[Prashanta Nanda]]'s ''[[Paheli (1977 film)|Paheli]]'' (1977).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/paheli-4741|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111003048/https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/paheli-4741|url-status=live|archive-date=11 November 2018|title=Paheli (1977) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos|website=Cinestaan|access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref> He shot to stardom after he was cast in Kanak Mishra's ''[[Sawan Ko Aane Do]]'' (1979) and Satyen Bose's ''[[Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin]]'' (1979).<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/sawan-ko-aane-do-5029|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111001543/https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/sawan-ko-aane-do-5029|url-status=live|archive-date=11 November 2018|title=Sawan Ko Aane Do (1979) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos|website=Cinestaan|access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/saanch-ko-aanch-nahin-4962|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111001516/https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/saanch-ko-aanch-nahin-4962|url-status=live|archive-date=11 November 2018|title=Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin (1979) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos|website=Cinestaan|access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref> He made his small screen debut in [[Ramanand Sagar]]'s ''[[Vikram Aur Betaal]]'' (1985).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/vikram-aur-betaal-it-was-great-storytelling-with-a-twist/story-0oiq7ZcvrkkgQqNFJMi0FN.html|title=Vikram Aur Betaal: It was great storytelling with a twist|date=12 May 2016|website=www.hindustantimes.com|access-date=10 November 2018|language=en}}</ref> He was then cast as Lord [[Rama]] in Sagar's  TV series ''[[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|Ramayan]]'' (1986), for which he won the Uptron Award in the Best Actor in a Leading Role category in 1988.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/I-would-never-regret-playing-lord-Ram-Arun-Govil/articleshow/17609352.cms|title=I would never regret playing lord Ram: Arun Govil - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/arun-govil-the-first-ram/story-iKYVwcBwMKdhiw6mfY3o3O.html|title=Arun Govil: the first Ram|date=18 October 2014|website=www.hindustantimes.com|access-date=10 November 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.friendsofprasarbharati.org/2014/july/J26.htm|title=Recent news|website=www.friendsofprasarbharati.org|access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref> He reprised his role as Rama in Sagar's ''[[Luv Kush]]'' and [[Padmalya Telefilms Limited]]''<nowiki/>'s [[Jai Veer Hanuman]]''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Arun Govil in Jai Veer Hanuman|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/apr/04ram.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108120432/https://m.rediff.com/movies/apr/04ram.htm |archive-date=8 January 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4E0DC6FA3D54BCBA|title=Luv Kush, Uttar Ramayan episodes|website=www.youtube.com|access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref>
Barjatya was really impressed by Govil's performance in the film and he signed him a three-film-deal — Kanak Mishra's ''Sawan Ko Aane Do'' (1979), [[Vijay Kapoor]]’s ''[[Raadha Aur Seeta]]'' (1979) and Satyen Bose's ''Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin'' (1979). ''Sawan Ko Aane Do'' became a major success at box office catapulting Govil to stardom.<ref name=":4" /> ''Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin'' was another success at box office.<ref name=":6" /> He featured in Kanak Mishra's ''[[Jiyo To Aise Jiyo]]'' (1981).

Ramanand Sagar cast Govil as [[Vikramaditya]] in his television series ''Vikram Aur Betaal'' and Rama in ''Ramayan''.

His role as Rama provided him great exposure and led him to be cast in other roles such as [[Harishchandra]] in the TV series ''Vishwamitra'' or [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] in the TV series ''Buddha''. He lent his voice as Rama in [[Yugo Sako]]'s Indo-Japanese animation film ''[[Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama]]'' (1992).<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama-37637|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111173731/https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama-37637|url-status=live|archive-date=11 November 2018|title=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama (Released) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos|website=Cinestaan|access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref> He also played the role of [[Laxman]] in [[V. Madhusudhana Rao]]'s ''[[Lav Kush]]'' (1997).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/lav-kush-8148|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111173833/https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/lav-kush-8148|url-status=live|archive-date=11 November 2018|title=Lav Kush (1997) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos|website=Cinestaan|access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref> In the year 2020, he appeared on [[The Kapil Sharma Show]] as a guest along with [[Dipika Chikhlia]], [[Sunil Lahri]] and Prem Sagar to promote book on late Ramanand Sagar.

==Personal life==
Govil is married to actress Shrilekha.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://photogallery.indiatimes.com/events/mumbai/srk-abhishek-at-wedding/articleshow/31036190.cms|title=Arun Govil with his wife Shrilekha|accessdate=19 June 2020|website=Photo Gallery}}</ref> They have two children together, Sonika and Amal. Their daughter in law's name is Divya.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.pagalparrot.com/arun-govil-daughter-sonika-govil/|title=Remember Arun Govil Who Played Ram In The First Ever 'Ramayana'? His Daughter Is All Grown Up Now!|date=16 January 2018|work=PagalParrot|access-date=11 November 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111133956/https://www.pagalparrot.com/arun-govil-daughter-sonika-govil/|archive-date=11 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 18 March 2021, he joined the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|Bhartiya Janata Party]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 March 2021|title=Arun Govil of Ramayana fame joins BJP|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/arun-govil-of-ramayana-fame-joins-bjp-7234571/|access-date=19 March 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

==Political career==
Arun Govil was nominated as the Bharatiya janta party candidate for [[Meerut Lok Sabha constituency]] from Uttar Pradesh on 25 March 2024, to contest the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls.<ref name="Kangana Ranaut, Arun Govil, Maneka Gandhi in BJP fifth list; Varun Gandhi dropped">{{cite news |last1=The Hindu |first1= |title=Kangana Ranaut, Arun Govil, Maneka Gandhi in BJP fifth list; Varun Gandhi dropped |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/lok-sabha-elections-2024-bjp-releases-111-more-candidates-on-march-24-2024/article67988538.ece |access-date=25 March 2024 |date=24 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325083104/https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/lok-sabha-elections-2024-bjp-releases-111-more-candidates-on-march-24-2024/article67988538.ece |archive-date=25 March 2024 |language=en-IN}}</ref> On 4 June 2024, he was elected to the Lok Sabha, representing [[Meerut Lok Sabha constituency]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.abplive.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/celebrities-arun-govil-to-rachana-banerjee-celebrity-winners-of-lok-sabha-elections-2024-celebrity-wins-this-lok-sabha-election-2024-1693339|title=Arun Govil To Rachana Banerjee, Celebrity Winners Of Lok Sabha Elections 2024|date=4 June 2024 |publisher=ABP news}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year !! Film !! Character !! Notes
|-
|1977
|''[[Paheli (1977 film)|Paheli]]''
|Balram
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|1979
|''[[Sawan Ko Aane Do]]''
|Brij Mohan/Birju
|
|-
|''[[Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin]]''
|Ajay S. Agarwal
|
|-
|''[[Raadha Aur Seeta]]''
|Shekhar Verma
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1980
|''[[Judaai (1980 film)|Judaai]]''
|Umakant S. Verma
|
|-
|''Ganga Dham''
|Mohan
|
|-
|rowspan="4"|1981
|''[[Jiyo To Aise Jiyo]]''
|Kundan Sharma
|
|-
|''Itni Si Baat''
|Anand
|
|-
|''Shradhanjali''
|Raju Kumar
|
|-
|''[[Commander (1981 film)|Commander]]''
|Rakesh Kumar
|
|-
|rowspan="5"|1982
|''Gumsum''
|Shankar
|
|-
|''[[Ayaash]]''
|Amal
|
|-
|''[[Sasural (1984 film)|Sasural]]''
|Narendra
|
|-
|''Jawalaa Dahej Ki''
|
|
|-
|''[[Brij Bhoomi (film)|Brij Bhoomi]]''
|
|[[Braj Bhasha]] dialect film
|-
| rowspan="4" |1983
|Kalka (1983 film)|Kalka
|Shibu
|
|-
|''[[Lal Chunariya]]''
|
|
|-
|''[[Himmatwala (1983 film)|Himmatwala]]''
|Govind
|
|-
|''[[Justice Chaudhury]]''
|Inspector Ramesh Chaudhary
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|1984
|''[[Aasmaan]]''
|Doctor
|
|-
|''[[Kanoon Meri Mutthi Mein]]''
|
|
|-
|''Ram Tera Desh''
|Prakash
|
|-
|rowspan="5"|1985
|''[[Karm Yudh]]''
|Rajesh
|
|-
|''[[Do Dilon Ki Dastaan (1985 film)|Do Dilon Ki Dastaan]]''
|Kamal
|
|-
|''[[Yudh (film)|Yudh]]''
|Inspector Bhargav
|
|-
|''[[Baadal (1985 film)|Baadal]]''
|Thakur Kiran Singh
|
|-
|''Lallu Ram''
|Shankar/Raju
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |1986
|''Devar Bhabi''
|in Hindi & Bhojpuri
|Actresses Shoma Anand (Hindi) & Upaasna Singh(Bhojpuri)
|-
|''[[Dilwaala]]''
|Mohan Kumar
|
|-
|''[[Shatru (1986 film)|Shatru]]''
|Salim
|
|-
|''Nafrat'' 
|Vijay
|
|-
|1987
|''Maashuka''
|Arun Verma
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1989
|Bidhir Bidhan
|
|Odia film
|-
|''Pyari Dulhaniya''
|
|Bhojpuri film
|-
|1991
|Edu Kondalaswamy
|[[Venkateswara|Lord Venkateswara]]
|Telugu film
|-
|rowspan="2"|1992
|''[[Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama]]''
|[[Rama|Lord Rama]] 
|voice only
|-
|''[[Shiv Mahima]]''
|[[Lord Shiva]]
|
|-
|1993
|''[[Muqabla (1993 film)|Muqabla]]''
|Havaldar Satyaprakash
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1994
|''[[Govinda Govinda (1994 film)|Govinda Govinda]]''
|[[Venkateswara|Lord Venkateswara]]
|Telugu film
|-
|''[[Kanoon (1994 film)|Kanoon]]''
|Pankaj
|Vishal's brother
|-
|rowspan="3"|1995
|Shanivrat Mahima
|[[Indra|Bhagwan Indra]]/<br />[[Venkateswara|Lord Venkestwara]]
|
|-
|''[[Haathkadi (1995 film)|Hathkadi]]''
|Arun Chauhan
|
|-
|Buk Bhara Bhalobasha
|Soumitra Dutt
|Bengali film
|-
|1996
|Great Robbery
|[[Venkateswara|Lord Venkateswara]]
|Telugu film
|-
|rowspan="4"|1997
|''[[Dhaal]]'' 
|Inspector Deodhar
|
|-
|''[[Do Ankhen Barah Hath]]''
|
|
|-
|''[[Lav Kush (film)|Lav Kush]]''
|[[Laxmana]]
|
|-
|''Gaon Desh''
|Bade Chaudhary
|Bhojpuri Film
|-
|1999
|''[[Upendra (film)|Upendra]]''
|Raja Vikramaditya
|Kannada Film
|-
| 2006
|''Babul Pyaare''
|Pandit Hari Singh
|Bhojpuri Film
|-
| 2007
|''Kanhaiyo''
|
|Rajasthani Film
|-
|rowspan="3" |2023
| ''[[Sergeant (2023 film)|Sergeant]]''
| Nikhil's Father
| on [[JioCinema]]
|-
|''[[OMG 2]]''
|Principal Atal Nath Maheshwari
|
|-
|''[[Hukus Bukus]]''
|Pandit Radheshayam
|
|-
|rowspan="2" |2024
|''[[695 (film)|695]]''
|
|
|-
|''[[Article 370 (film)|Article 370]]''
|Prime Minister
|Hindi Film 
|-
|2025
|''[[Veer Murarbaji]]'' 
|[[Shahaji]]
|Marathi film<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reunion of Sita Ram:Sita Ram of Ramayana is going to meet again |url=https://www.indiaherald.com/Movies/Read/994655299/Reunion-of-Sita-RamSita-Ram-of-Ramayana-is-going-to-meet-again |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=indiaherald.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 2026
|''[[Ramayana Part 1 (film)]]'' 
|Dasharatha
|Hindi, English 
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role  !! Notes
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Vikram Aur Betaal]]'' || King [[Vikramāditya]] ||
|-
| 1987-1988 || ''[[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|Ramayan]]'' || [[Lord Rama]]  ||
|-
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Luv Kush]]'' || [[Lord Rama]] ||
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Vishwamitra (TV series)|Vishwamitra]]'' || Raja Harishchandra  ||
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Phoolwanti (TV Series)|Phoolwanti]]'' || Pandit Vankatesh Shastri ||
|-
| 1994-95 || Mashaal (TV series)|Mashaal || Ajay || 
|-
|1995
|[[Jai Veer Hanuman]]
|[[Rama|Ram]]
|
|-
|1996- 1997
|Buddha
|Buddha
|
|-
| 1998-1999 || Aashiqui (TVseries)|Ashiqui || Sushil ||
|-
| 1999-2000 || ''[[Pal Chhin]]'' || Pratap Singh ||
|-
| 2000-2001 || ''[[Basera (2000 TV series)|Basera]]'' || ||
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Kaise Kahoon]]'' || Zaheer Ahmed ||
|-
| 2002 || ''Saanjhi'' || Amar ||
|-
| 2003 || ''Ehsaas - Kahani Ek Ghar Ki'' || ||
|-
| 2003 || ''[[Gayatri Mahima ]]'' || Rishi Chavan 
|-
| 2006 || ''Woh Hue Na Hamare'' || Ravinder Damania
|-
|2013
|Etv's Sri Bhagavatam
|Vishnu
|Telugu Mythological serial
|-
| 2023 || ''[[Jubilee (TV series)|Jubilee]]'' || Narain Khanna 
| {{no wrap|[[Amazon Prime Video]]}} series
|}

== See also ==

* [[List of Indian television actors]]
* [[List of Hindi television actresses]]
* [[List of Indian television actresses]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|4468244|Arun Govil}}
*{{Twitter|Arungovil12}}
*[https://arungovil.in/ Arun Govil Official Website]
*{{Instagram|siyaramkijai}}
*{{Facebook|govilarun52}}
*{{YouTube|custom=ArunGovilOfficial}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20210318184135/https://www.kooapp.com/profile/arungovil Arun Govil on Koo App]

{{18th Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Govil, Arun}}
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Bengali cinema]]
[[Category:Indian male television actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actors from Meerut]]
[[Category:Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University alumni]]
[[Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian actor-politicians]]
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Politicians from Meerut]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]