Singham actor Ashok Samarth: “Today, Ayodhya witnesses the culmination of a 500-year struggle by saints”

Actor Ashok Samarth is set to play one of leads in Arun Govil starrer film 695, depicting a 500-year saga chronicling the unwavering struggle and sacrifices paving the way for the historic construction of the Ram Mandir temple in Ayodhya. Ashok who is known for his performances in movies like Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, Jail, Veer, Singham, Rowdy Rathore, R Rajkumar, Simmba, and others, gets candid about how he prepped for his character in 695 and his working experience.

He said, “I play the role of Ramchandra Das Paramhans. He struggled for 82 years to achieve the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi throughout his life. Being a preacher and propagator of Sanatana Hindu Dharma, he stood with the Hindus who wanted change and hoped to bring change. I had the opportunity to play my role in three age groups: 35-65-82. This is the first time in my career that any role has kept me awake.”

Sharing about how he prepped for the role he says, “My involvement in Marathi theater for the past 20 years provided me with the profound understanding needed to design this character. Extensive written materials and videos about Paramhans Ji further enriched my creative process. Working collaboratively with the writer and director, I poured my heart into thoughtfully presenting his story, recognizing the immense responsibility of capturing 500 years of struggle in a nuanced and impactful way.”

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Talking about why the title 695, he tells, “6-9-5 denotes, 6 December – Babri Masjid was demolished. 9 November – Supreme Court verdict in favour of Ram Mandir. 5 August – Ram Janmabhoomi pooja. Whether it is Singham, or Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, or Simmba, these films have given me commercial success. But this role gave a different experience. Today, Ayodhya witnesses the culmination of a 500-year struggle by saints, as the grand inauguration of Ram Mandir brings their dream to fruition. The film will depict that journey.”

Recalling his working experience with Arun Govil in the film, he says, “Arun Govil has embodied my gurudev like no other. He became our Ram on screen, and that’s how millions still see him. In this film, we explore a complex relationship between a guru and his disciple, a concept I believe will resonate deeply. Raghunandan, my character, represents the voice of Hindus yearning for change, the ones knocking on doors for their rightful place on their own land. The audience will definitely like to see this, because there is energy of thoughts, and reality too.”

Speaking about film’s USP, he mentioned, “The film is set against the backdrop of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 and the subsequent court case that eventually led to the construction of the Ram Mandir. The film explores the complex religious and political issues that have surrounded the Ayodhya dispute, and it offers a powerful and moving portrait of the human cost of this long-standing conflict.The film is likely to appeal to a wide range of audiences, including Hindus, Muslims, and people of all faiths who are interested in religious and political issues.”