A documentary exploring the making of Ramanand Sagar's iconic television series 'Ramayan' (1987) is scheduled to premiere on December 29, 2026. Titled 'Making of an Epic – When the Screen Became Sacred', the project will revisit the creative and spiritual journey behind the landmark production. Producer Shiv Sagar, Ramanand Sagar's grandson, has shared several lesser-known details about the show's development. In an interview with Variety, Shiv Sagar discussed the inspiration behind the documentary, his grandfather's approach to casting and the work that went into shaping Arun Govil's portrayal of Lord Rama. He also spoke about whether Ramanand Sagar would have considered Ranbir Kapoor for the character today. The announcement comes as Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana: Rise of a Legend' continues to draw attention.
Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana' inspires a look back at the classic
Shiv Sagar believes the renewed interest in the epic, following the arrival of Nitesh Tiwari's film, offers an opportunity to revisit the 1987 television adaptation. He wants the documentary to go beyond the show's popularity and examine the circumstances surrounding its creation. "Yes, certainly. The timing felt appropriate. With Nitesh Tiwari’s “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” generating so much interest, audiences are naturally revisiting and comparing different interpretations of the epic. That has created an opportunity to look back at my grandfather's “Ramayan”—not simply as a television series, but as a cultural phenomenon and as the story of how it was actually made. Our documentary is intended to explore the man behind the series, the circumstances in which he made it, the challenges he faced, and the spiritual and creative journey that led to its creation. "
Would Ramanand Sagar have selected Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama?
Shiv Sagar was also asked whether his grandfather might have considered Ranbir Kapoor for the role of Lord Rama. He said it would be difficult to predict his grandfather's decision, given how carefully he approached the casting of the character. "It's impossible for me to speak definitively on behalf of my grandfather. But knowing his approach to casting and his very specific understanding of the character of Lord Rama, I think he would have had a very rigorous process before making that decision. He was extremely particular about what he wanted from the actor playing Lord Rama, so I imagine Ranbir would have had to convince him through that process."
Documentary to release on Ramanand Sagar's birthday
The documentary will also celebrate the contributions of Ramanand Sagar and his son Prem Sagar. Shiv Sagar said the project is being developed as a tribute to both filmmakers and their association with the television series. "We are planning to release “Making of an Epic – When the Screen Became Sacred” very soon. This documentary is a heartfelt tribute to my grandfather, Dr. Ramanand Sagar, and my father, Prem Sagar. We want to ensure that it reaches audiences across generations and celebrates the extraordinary legacy of ‘Ramayan’ (1987). We are planning to release it on my grandfather’s birthday, which is on December 29, 2026."
How Arun Govil became Ramanand Sagar's Lord Rama
Arun Govil's portrayal eventually became one of the defining elements of 'Ramayan'. However, Shiv Sagar revealed that the actor was not among his grandfather's initial preferences. His father, Prem Sagar, along with his uncles Anand Sagar and Moti Sagar, supported Govil's selection. "I don’t know exactly what changed my grandfather’s mind. What I do know from my family’s understanding of the process is that Arunji was not initially among my grandfather’s first choices. My father Prem Sagar, my uncles Anand Sagar and Moti Sagar, and others in the family strongly advocated for him. Ultimately, my grandfather made the decision, and the rest became history."
The making of Arun Govil's iconic smile
Shiv Sagar also recalled the attention Ramanand Sagar paid to Govil's expressions. He explained that his grandfather wanted the actor to communicate Lord Rama's emotions through subtle facial movements rather than exaggerated gestures. "My grandfather made ‘Ramayan’ at the age of 70. By then, he was an extremely seasoned writer, director and producer. He knew the scriptures deeply, spoke eight languages and was a formidable intellectual. While directing Arunji, he understood that Lord Rama is not an excessively demonstrative or talkative character. Therefore, many of his emotions had to be conveyed through subtle expressions. My grandfather worked with Arunji on different kinds of smiles and expressions each conveying a slightly different emotion. There was a quality of an all-knowing smile, while simultaneously allowing the leela to unfold around him. That eventually became one of the defining characteristics of Arunji’s Lord Rama. I would give a lot of credit to my grandfather’s direction for identifying and shaping that quality, and equally to Arunji for executing it so beautifully." Meanwhile, Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana: Rise of a Legend' continued its box-office run on Tuesday after recording a significant jump on Monday during the Diwali period. According to Sacnilk, the film collected Rs 440.45 crore in India net and Rs 526.50 crore in gross earnings over six days. Its Hindi net collection reached Rs 336 crore. The film is still behind 'Dhurandhar 2' and 'Pushpa 2' in the race to the Rs 300 crore Hindi net milestone. The two films achieved the feat in three and five days, respectively.
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