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 He
needs no introduction. In fact, many people know him as Lord Krishna.
The mischievous smile has not only made him the most popular God
on the small screen hands down, Nitish says, "I guess, I am the
chosen one. When I look back from where I started, I feel a sense
of total bliss within me and consider myself to be fortunate to
play all the avatars in various mythological."
Having portrayed
Krishna, Vaman, and Parshuram - Nitish is now conquering the small
tube in his new avatar of Lord Rama in BR Chopra’s new epic
Ramayan. Poised and composed Nitish confesses, "It was an honour
that BR Chopra selected me to play Ram. A man who’s so experienced
and humble knows about his actor’s capabilities. However, it’s
my responsibility to give my best." Nitish discloses that "my
upbringing has surely helped me to portray the role aptly. With
my Gurus’ (Swami Eshwaranandgiri and Swami Sadyojat Shankashram)
blessings, I have really worked hard to understand the character
of Ram. My spiritual learning too, has helped me to understand the
limitation of being Lord Rama. Many will think that it’s easy
to don Ram’s character, but honestly speaking, it’s much
more difficult because Ram is maryada purshottam. Ram is bounded
with limitations, who lived as the most perfect man among humans,
inspite of godly powers. Whereas Lord Krishna is jagat narayan."
When we ask
him about what compelled him to take up the challenge? He explains,
"It was destined that way I guess. I must confess that we humans
cannot do what we want to because HE has his own master plans for
each one of us. I am a puppet and I am just doing what HE wants
me to do. Nitish went to Pune to his Guru’s ashram for one-week
intensive discussion. There he clarified all the character traits,
the bindings, how as Ram he should behave and act and learned a
great deal from his Gurus. Apart from all these discourses, Nitish
was very much touched by BR Chopra’s humility when after watching
Nitish as Parshuram, he wrote to Nitish in England "I have
become a fan of yours." Nitish discloses, "It was his
greatness and humbleness and I was really touched by such a nice
compliment. I describe BR sahab as nirmal because he’s so pure
and clean. When he selected me for the role of Ram, honestly I wasn’t
a bit surprised because I know that he trusts me." In fact,
in Vishnu Puran, in which he portrayed the role of Parshuram, many
of his close friends couldn’t recognise him. He reminisces,
"The get up, make up and my voice modulation (I changed for
Parshuram) made everybody wondered about this new actor (smiles).
I was so happy because my hard work really had paid in such kind
of reactions from friends who had known me for years now."
 Nitish
also had the chance to act as Vaman in Vishnu Puran. He’s so
obsessed about all these characters that, he feels in total bliss
when he recollects the opportunity God had bestowed on him. "Yes,
I am fortunate and my growing up in a wonderful family sure did
wonders. I come from a spiritually inclined family. Right from my
childhood, I had had a spiritual guidance and scriptural exposure
of various religious epics. I also have two learned spiritual masters,
who guide me when ever I am in any trouble, doubt or else wish to
learn more. I belong to a family who follow Advaid Vedant that is,
non-dualism philosophy." Does he think that breaking his Krishna
image was difficult? He smiles and says, "Ram is after all
Krishna avatar and if you see, both are Vishnu avatar. People who
have liked me as Krishna surely will like me as Ram also. I have
been getting lots of fan mail, who have appreciated my portrayal
of Vaman and Parshuram to great extent. I am rediscovering the new
facets of divinity of mankind."
 Comparisons
are bound to be there and when we ask him about Ramanand Sagar’s
Ramayan, he’s honest to confess that "Ramayan is an epic
and one must respect its sanctity. Comparison should never be made
because both the makers have their own way to interpret their creative
abilities. However, the story remains the same. Sagar’s Ramayan
was beautifully made and so is this one. Change is evident and it’s
the audience who can comment and appreciate the good work in both
the creations."
Nitish’s
screen image is more associated with ’god’ characters
than those of a mortal. To which he replies, "I have acted
in various other serials and I have been content with my work. I
have acted as an IAS officer in the serial called Sare Sapne Kahin
Kho Gaye. Then I had produced and directed a woman based serial
Apradhi, which incidentally I even anchored. In the late 80s, I
even acted in a Marathi feature film with Varsha Usgaonkar. I have
done about three films in Marathi and in total about 10 films so
far. I am also actively involved with the Marathi theatre. However,
I am so glad that people have always related me with my godly image.
I am really lucky for all the adulation."
 Nitish
is not only a spiritual person on screen, but in reality too, he’s
a totally devoted person, who’s there to teach and learn from
others the good things of life. His future plans include two mythologicals,
which have not been touched so far and they have deep philosophy
of life. "I will be producing both of them and might even act.
Because my audience wish to see me acting," he confides. Last
but not the least, when we ask him to describe the avatars that
he had portrayed so far, he concludes, "Vishnu is the base,
the evolution of the whole Brahmand. Krishna had his own perspective
about the whole doings. Parshuram is an incomplete avatar and hence
the anger was evident. Why I say it to be incomplete because in
every avatar, Vishnu has the nari shakti to make it a complete avatar.
Ram is a challenge, an insight because he’s tested as a normal
human being."
—Johnny
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