Gajendra Chauhan goes from Mahabharat’s Yudhishthir to Ramayan’s Raavan

FTII chairman

Gajendra Chauhan

has been chosen as the new Raavan for the Ramlila organised by the

Lav Kush Ramlila Committee

at the Red Fort grounds. The role, which was earlier essayed by actor Puneet Issar, who is famous for his role as Duryodhan in Mahabharat, will now be played by Gajendra. This is because Puneet is recovering from a back injury he suffered when he was weight training. "I have been shooting for a Telugu film which has a lot of action sequences. While shooting an action scene I felt a jerk on my back. Then, when I was doing weight training during my workout session, I felt a pain and have had a stiff back since then. To perform a character like Raavan, one has to be fit and walk in a certain way. The costumes for the character are very heavy and I don’t want to put pressure on my back right now. I realised that it is important to pay attention to my health and so, had to tell the organisers that I won’t be able to be a part of the Ramlila this year. Also, I’m busy with the play

'Raavan Ki Ramayan'

, and to play Raavan in Ramlila, I would want to give all my time and prepare dedicatedly," says Puneet.

ALSO READ:
TV’s Duryodhan makes stage debut as Raavan

Sources told us that there were some issues between Puneet and the organisers, and so, this last minute change was made, though Puneet denied any disagreement with the organisers. "I was a part of the Ramlila last year and would love to perform in the future. Apart from my health issues, there’s no other reason for me not performing at Delhi’s Ramlila this year," he adds.

Gajendra, who was earlier chosen to essay Nishad Raj, was informed about the change on Thursday evening. "I will soon be in Delhi to start rehearsing. I have acted in many mythological shows, but this is something new. It’s a great opportunity. Raavan was a very wise, intelligent man and a big Shiv bhakt," says Gajendra is known for role as Yudhishthir in Mahabharat. Gajendra played Shiva in last year’s Ramlila.

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.