'I Never Thought': Dipika Chikhlia On Receiving Invitation For Ram Mandir Consecration

Renowned for her iconic portrayal of Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan, actress Dipika Chikhlia has recently shared her excitement about receiving an invitation to the highly awaited consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22. Apart from her, actor Arun Govil, who played the role of Lord Ram in the same series, has also been invited. The duo who became a household name after Ramayan aired on Doordarshan, will now be a part of the historic occasion. In a recent interview, she expressed her surprise at being invited and stated, “I’m excited. I’m going. I never thought that we would get the invitation but we have.”

Chikhlia, during her conversation with ETimes TV, despite the excitement surrounding the Ayodhya temple event, remained tight-lipped about her anticipated look for the occasion.

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When asked about the temple’s specifics, she revealed her concern about only Lord Ram’s idol being placed in the temple. Expressing her view, Chikhlia said, “I requested the PM that you should have Sita Ji also there because Ramji cannot be alone.” Later, she mentioned that the news confirmed that the temple would indeed feature separate idols for Ram, Lakshman, and Sita.

Diving into her current role as a producer for the TV serial Dhartiputri Nandini, which airs on Nazara Television at 8:30 pm, Dipika shared her joy in achieving the top spot since its launch on August 21. “The best part is that ever since we launched our serial, it has been the number one. So, I am very happy. I want everybody who can hear me or read me to watch the serial because I’m acting in it too. I’m back on the screen after Ramayan for the first time,” she asserted.

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Passionate about her involvement in the production, she also talked about her hands-on approach, drawing parallels to her hands-on parenting style.

“I am very hands-on as a person. Even when my children were growing up, I was a very hands-on mom. And even now in my production, I’m very hands-on. I use a lot of stuff from my home, my clothes, and my jewellery. Where the script is concerned, I like to put it in. I always tell people that yes, I like to button everywhere in each department,” the actress explained.

As she delved into the kind of content she aims to produce, Chikhlia expressed her desire to create clean, positive, and progressive shows that emanate the positive energy she cultivates on her sets.

Navigating the demanding 24/7 world of television, Dipika admitted she has no clear strategy but feels blessed to manage her commitments effortlessly. She narrated a recent hectic schedule, underlining her relentless dedication. “I have no idea how to do it. But yes, I’m blessed,” she added.

Ending on a lighter note, when asked about her secret to maintaining herself, Chikhlia simply credited her positive outlook, laughter, and extensive conversations.