The timeless allure of Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan has made stars like Arun Govil and Deepika Chikhalia synonymous with Ram and Sita. The show’s influence peaked when Rajiv Gandhi asked Deepika for its VCR tapes, a testament to its nationwide frenzy.
Hailing from Mumbai, born in 1965, Deepika embraced TV early on, defying family reservations about the ‘idiot box’ era where television lagged behind cinema in prestige.
Her journey began with Rishte-Naate in 1980, paving the way for Sagar’s other hits like Dada-Dadi Ki Kahaniyan and Vikram Betaal. Securing Sita’s role was no cakewalk—three rigorous auditions whittled down dozens of aspirants, with Deepika emerging victorious after an agonizing wait.
Behind the scenes, reality diverged sharply from the epic romance. Deepika kept her distance from co-stars Arun and Sunil, preferring conversations with the director’s family. Surprisingly, her most notable exchanges were with Ravana actor Arvind Trivedi, though not intimate bonds.
Ramayan’s success elevated Deepika to saintly status. Devotees prostrated before her, performed rituals, and garlanded her. A striking incident unfolded in Mauritius: during a buffet, attendees refused her and Arun food, fearing contamination by ‘divine’ hands. Special vegetarian arrangements followed, yet hours of hunger preceded it.
From aspiring actress to living goddess, Deepika’s story reveals the double-edged sword of iconic roles—adoration laced with unexpected hardships.
