Ramanand Sagar's Rare Truths: Orphan, Sold Soaps, Ramayan Creator, Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Half-Brother

On January 25, 1987, the first-ever episode of Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan aired on Doordarshan's flagship television channel, DD National. The show was written, directed, and created by the critically acclaimed director, Ramanand Sagar, and it went on to become the most-watched television show in India. As per reports, Doordarshan earned around Rs. 40 lakhs from the telecast of Ramayan's single episode on DD National.

Ramanand Sagar's professional career as a filmmaker: From Ramayan to Alif Laila and Sai Baba

One of the primary reasons why Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan has become an integral part of Hindu culture is that the filmmaker meticulously worked on even the smallest details. The show was primarily based on Valmiki's 'Ramayan' and Tulsidas' 'Ramcharitmanas'.

According to the BBC, people used to close their shops and stop working when Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan was telecast every Sunday morning. From empty streets to people sitting in front of television sets with garlands in their hands, Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan broke TRP records and made a mark in India's cultural history.

It's fair to say that Ramanand Sagar made a monumental contribution to the lives of billions of people worldwide who believe in Lord Ram by creating the Ramayan. Most aspects of his professional career are well-known to everyone. Only a few are aware that Ramanand Sagar had made numerous films before creating Ramayan.

Some of his notable films include Arzoo, Ankhen, Geet, Laalkar, Charas, Prem Bandhan, Bhagavat, and many more. Not only this, Ramanand Sagar also created many recognised television shows like Vikram Aur Betaal, Dada Dadi Ki Kahaniyan, Luv Kush, Alif Laila, Shri Krishna, Jai Ganga Maiya, Jai Jai Jai Tridev, Sai Baba, and many more. Despite all this information, there are still some unknown facts about his personal life that every person who loved his work should be aware of. So, without further ado, let's talk about it!

#1. Ramanand Sagar's mother passed away when he was just 5 years old

Ramayan's director, Ramanand Sagar, was born on December 29, 1917, in Lahore, and his parents named him Chandramouli Chopra. While his father's name was Lala Dinanath Chopra, his mother's name is still not mentioned anywhere in the public domain. Unfortunately, when he was just 5, his mother passed away. It was a tough time for his father, Lala Dinanath Chopra, to take care of such a small child and also deal with the pain of losing his wife.

#2. Ramanand Sagar's maternal grandmother adopted him after his mother's demise

After the demise of his mother, Ramanand Sagar was adopted by his maternal uncle. It was then that his maternal grandmother changed his name from Chandramouli Chopra to Ramanand Sagar. As per reports, although his maternal uncle adopted him, it was his maternal grandmother with whom Ramanand Sagar spent most of his childhood. Several media reports even speculated that Ramanand Sagar struggled a lot while living with his maternal uncle, and it was his grandmother who supported him through thick and thin.

#3. Ramanand Sagar is the half-brother of '12th Fail' director, Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Even after so many years, it is still an unknown fact for so many people that the critically-acclaimed filmmaker, Ramanand Sagar and renowned film producer, Vidhu Vinod Chopra are half-brothers. Ramanand Sagar's father, Lala Dinanath Chopra, got married to Shanti Devi Mahalakshmi after the demise of his first wife.

Lala Dinanath and Shanti Devi welcomed a baby boy, whom they named Vidhu Vinod Chopra. On the other side, Ramanand Sagar spent most of his childhood and growing years with his maternal uncle and grandmother. However, even then, Ramanand Sagar and Vidhu Vinod Chopra always shared a beautiful bond with each other.

#4. The half-brothers, Ramanand Sagar and Vidhu Vinod Chopra, have an age gap of 35 years

The details about Lala Dinanath Chopra's two weddings aren't officially available in the public domain. However, as per multiple reports, Ramanand Sagar and Vidhu Vinod Chopra have an age difference of 35 years. The Ramayan director reportedly treated his young half-brother like his son, according to media reports. From helping Vidhu Vinod Chopra in his professional career to always supporting him, Ramanand Sagar reportedly fulfilled his responsibilities as an elder brother righteously.

#5. Ramanand Sagar worked as a peon and sold soaps during his struggling days

Not everyone knows that Ramanand Sagar held numerous low-paying jobs before achieving success in the film and television industry. For the uninitiated, Ramanand Sagar had sold soaps on streets, worked as a peon, served as a helper in a goldsmith's shop, and even cleaned trucks for money. Once, in an old interview, Ramanand Sagar revealed that whatever amount of money he earned by doing low-paying jobs during his struggling period, he spent it on books and pens or pencils. He said:

"I was fond of reading and writing and I used to invest whatever I earned from this work in my studies".

Which lesser-known fact about Ramayan's director, Ramanand Sagar's personal life, shocked you the most? Let us know.

Also Read: Reel-Life Ram Arun Govil's Lesser Known Facts: Abused For Smoking To Not Getting Work After Ramayan

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