Gagan Malik stepped into the small screen with Shakuntala on Star Plus that was followed by Saath Saath Banayenge Ashiyana and Navya. Though his journey into television didn’t click with the audience, it seems with Zee TV’s latest mythological show Ramayan, Malik will reach to the heights of fame and success. In a chat with Tellychakkar.com, Gagan discussed his journey towards bagging the role of Ram. Excerpts: How did you bag this role of Ram? Normally, while casting any of such legendary character, the casting director always notices the looks and body posture of an actor as to whether it would match the character or not. They also judge the actor’s personality, his voice, the divineness that is needed in such character and only then they will finalise the actor. Similarly, I was given many look tests for this role. This may be exciting to note that the casting for the role was going on since three months. I don’t think they left anyone from the television industry for the auditions. Once everything was settled, I got ready to play Lord Ram. I still remember when I was decked up in Ram’s get up, I could see a sparkle and positive response in everyone’s eyes on those who were present at the moment. Did you go through any kind of workouts to play the character? Yes, but only after I was finalised for the role. Actually, I was a muscular kind of person earlier. But, the character demanded that I should be a little lean. Therefore, I almost cut down by 7 kgs and accordingly shaped up my as per the demand. Audience will get to see my posture changing as Ramayan unfolds. Did you ever dream of essaying ‘Ram’? Hailing from Delhi, we always celebrated functions of Ram and Krishna. Since childhood, I always played Ram and Krishna. So, it is like that my efforts had paid off now. Talks of you resembling Mohit Raina (who is currently essaying Shiv in Mahadev) are doing the rounds. Did you receive any comments on it? Actually, there are few people with a divine look; they have those kinds of personalities suitable to play these characters. So, people get confused with faces. I may recall that my mother got many calls saying that I was playing Shiv, but she repeatedly kept on denying that the character who plays Shiv is not Gagan. But, now I am sure that she must be proudly saying that Gagan is playing Ram. Have you ever read Ramayan? No, I did try to but never completed it. I have seen Ramayan on Television and my mom is a devotee of Ram. She has been repeatedly reading Ramayan and it is because of this, I know the whole story of Ram. Story wise, I didn’t do any kind of homework, but I have started reading Ramayan lately and hope this time I will be able to complete it. Essaying such characters at times becomes a risky proposition as one cannot socialize publicly. Do you think this will bring in a change in you? Firstly, I am a teetotaler in the sense that I don’t drink and neither do I smoke and am not a party animal. I love having non vegetarian food but now I have started controlling and keeping non veg food away from me. Though I haven’t promised anyone of not eating non veg, but I am trying not have that kind of stuff. As you are back on the small screen, controversies would tend to happen. What’s your take on it? Well, I am married and have my Sita with me who is very supportive. Otherwise, I am all sorted and therefore don’t have to worry about any kind of controversies. Qualities of Lord Ram that you love a lot? Firstly, it’s truthfulness; people these days change themselves easily. They change their statements to please, adjust and make way from the difficulty whereas Ram always stuck to what was true saying that by doing this, one will win eventually win at the end. Secondly, the ‘dharma’; according to him was not religion or caste, but one’s responsibility towards something that is called ‘Dharma’ and that should be fulfilled. Last, but not the least, his belief was that having only one wife makes a real man. All the best Gagan!!!