Arvind Trivedi was doing Paresh Rawal’s famous Gujarati play Maharathi. So, when the role of Ravan was offered to Trivedi, he asked Rawal whether he should take it up as he was already committed to Maharathi.
Trivedi was already an established and hugely respected actor. According to Rawal, Trivedi was generous enough to approach him and ask about the opportunity. Rawal was struck by Trivedi’s gesture.
Rawal said to Trivedi, “If I stop you from doing this, then I would be committing a sin. Of course you should do it. If someone else comes in to play my part, so be it. A role like Ravan doesn’t come along often. An actor of your calibre deserves a role like this.”
For Rawal, the opportunity seemed almost divinely ordained. He described himself as merely an instrument, as though God wanted him to do some good work and had chosen him as the medium. “Shayad bhagwan mere haath se kuchh achha kaam karana chahta tha, toh nimitta matra tha main, aur kuchh nahin”, he said.
