Exclusive: Nikitin Dheer by Srimad Ramayan People in our nation are proud to call themselves “Sanatani,” and this is reflected in the environment

One of the best performers in the business, Nikitin Dheer has a history of taking on challenging parts on film. He is now featured in Shrimad Ramayan as Ravan. During a brief interview with ETimes TV, the actor discussed his daughter’s reaction to his appearance, landing the part of Ravan, and his family’s response. In addition to sharing an intriguing backstory about landing the job, the actor said that, like Ravan, he is a devout follower of Lord Shiva and has a large tattoo on his forehand.

On how people get terrified by him in the Ravan costume

Whether I’m clean-shaven or wear a beard for a part like Thangaballi in Chennai Express, people often make snap judgments about others based just on their looks. Even with my appearance, I can still terrify certain people. But regardless of my looks, my 1.5-year-old daughter always expresses love and acceptance. Her unshakable response makes me really happy and has made me realize that putting my own pleasure ahead of other people’s views is just part of my work. (Image: Instagram)

Siddharth Kumar Tewary thought of Ravan as undeveloped and savage.
I’m committed to bringing Ravan’s raw and savage image to life, as envisioned by Siddharth Kumar Tewary. My goal has been to get the most realistic look possible. Realizing that television gigs need a longer time commitment, I made sure to finish previous obligations and told prospective employers that the beard would not be going away. Unexpectedly, a lot of productions gave the raw look their full support; several even extended job offers to me as a result. It’s encouraging to see that my interpretation has attracted favorable attention and produced fresh prospects. (Image: Instagram)

Ravan’s part was destined for me.
To be honest, I think I was destined for the part of Ravan; it’s almost like the world planned it. It’s something I had secretly hoped for and found within of me. I’ve researched the part thoroughly and have always been pulled to it, even though I’ve kept my desire to portray the character to myself. It’s interesting to note that I received an invitation to play Ravan in Shrimad Ramayan only 15 days after getting a tattoo of Lord Mahadev, something I’ve always desired. I got a strong sense that fate had finally come together to provide one of my greatest desires.

His interest in portraying Ravan in film
The job excited me because of Siddharth Kumar Tewary’s imagination. Given the abundance of performers who have portrayed Ravan in the past, I questioned him about how his interpretation would be different from earlier takes. He told me about his intention to present hitherto unheard tales on television and gave me his word that he would accurately portray Ravan, according to the details found in our sacred scriptures, such as the Puranas. (Image: Instagram)

Regarding overseeing outdoor photo sessions and avoiding family
Since I’ve been in the business for a while, I’ve participated in a lot of outdoor shots, particularly for South Indian movies where the shoots might go for a long period. On the other hand, the production house was very well-organized with Shrimad Ramayan. Every five or six days, they made sure we had time to see our relatives. I was able to refuel thanks to this. Though it’s uncommon for me to spend more than ten days apart from my family, it’s still tolerable given that everyone in my family is an actor and is aware of the pressures of the business. (Image: Instagram)

Regarding leaving behind a little daughter – As performers, we are aware of the short lifespan of our professions.
As performers, we are aware of the finite nature of our professions. My desire to work harder has increased even more with the arrival of my daughter. I think all parents want the best for their kids, so they don’t have to go through what we experienced. I think this is a common sentiment. Giving it all I have is ingrained in my nature, and I see myself as realistic and grounded in my pursuit of that goal.

Regarding father Pankaj Dheer’s reply
My father has cherished every episode of Ramadan that he has seen. He even gave Siddharth a few calls to talk about the program, and they had some insightful exchanges. Siddharth is an excellent listener who can appreciate the viewpoints of people from a time when minutiae were carefully considered. The biggest win, in my opinion, is that my father really loves it. My worst critic is him. (Image: Instagram)

Tears filled my eyes.

I can’t believe you did a better job than I did in the part of Unhone Mujhse Ek Baat Kahi. Itna accha nahi kar paata main. My main concern was that. I can still clearly remember the last time I had tears in my eyes while shooting at Umbergaon. I was very touched by his appreciation, especially because I grew up seeing him play Karn. I have direct experience of the enormous amount of effort he put into his job. Knowing this, I made it my mission to always bring the same amount of commitment to the table, regardless of the situation.

Regarding wife Kratika’s response

Kratika is very pleased with me. I recall the first time she witnessed the look test in our home, while I was wearing a Ravan costume. She informed me that I looked great and that this would be something amazing, giving me shivers. She told me how pleased she was of me when she saw the last program. In response, I said in jest that I now had the right to boast. I said, “Tum Jhansi ki Rani kar chuki ho, dad has played Karn Aur ab Ravan Accha hai toh now I’ve bragging rights.” (I said to her, “You’ve portrayed Jhansi ki Rani, Dad has played Karn, and now that I’ve done justice to Ravan, I can confidently say I’ve attempted this zone.”

Regarding people’s fascination in mythology: People take great delight in referring to themselves as “Sanatani.”
jis tarah ka prachalan hai logon ko mujhe lagta hai desh mein abhi. This is how I feel about Woh Sanatani or Bhartiya. I think that people’s pleasure in identifying as Sanatani or Bharatiya (Indian) is reflected in the present climate in our nation. Greater knowledge and increasing consumption of information linked to these issues are being fueled by their pride in their cultural and religious history. There is thus increasing impetus in this direction.)

It is becoming harder and harder to trick or mislead the audience.
These days, people are quick to condemn those who talk foolishly and to commend those who communicate correctly. The overall population’s IQ has increased noticeably. People’s opinions have been widened by the chance they had to absorb global content—including international cinema—during the lockdown. As a consequence, misleading or deceiving the audience has become more difficult.