Small screen’s favourite superhero Hanuman

After Lord Krishna, it is the mythological character of Hanuman that the masses connect with and find endearing. While it all started with Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan with the legendary actor Dara Singh playing the role, today we have multiple shows on

TV

with Hanuman playing a significant part in it.
While makers admit that it is Hanuman’s ‘universal appeal’ and ‘powerful connect with masses’ as important reasons for him to be so popular, actor Vindu Dara Singh, who has portrayed the character of Hanuman around 7-8 times in his career says, “My father was chosen to play Hanuman as Ramanand Sagar dreamt about him and felt that only he will play the part. People from across generations are able to connect with the power and strength this God exudes.”
Vishal Kotian, who has played Hanuman in Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev, says, “Hanuman is a superhuman for children and adults. He can fly, has supernatural powers and is worshipped across the country.”

Producer Speak
Producer Abhimanyu Singh says, “Apart from religious reasons, it is the message that God Hanuman sends through his stories which connects with masses. While it has been time since the first Ramayan was made, we felt that a show on Hanuman would acquaint the new generation with his life and the different aspects of his childhood which have never been told before. Also, he is a superhuman and the way he managed issues and battled the odds is something unique. His bravery, powers, kindness, mischief and his worshipping Lord Rama all have a universal appeal.”

Read also:TV's new Hanuman 'excited' about his acting debut
On Hanuman Jayanti, we take a look at actors who portrayed the character On TV OVER THE YEARS

Dara SinghTV show: Ramayan (1986)
With six feet tall and 127 kilos, the actor was one of the first ones to play Hanuman on Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan. He still continues to remain etched in people’s memories as the actor who best played the actor.

Vindu Dara Singh
TV shows: Jai Veer Hanuman (1996) and Vishnu Puran (2003)
It was natural that after his father Dara Singh portrayed Hanuman, the son was chosen to play Hanuman. Vindu has played Hanuman eight times in his career and believes that the myth of Lord Hanuman being always omnipresent and alive is the fact why people still want to know more about him.

Nirbhay Wadhwa

TV show: Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanuman (2015)
After playing Dushasana in Mahabharat, Nirbhay was chosen to play Hanuman in the show. The actor gained 20 kilos of weight and had vigorous workout routines attached with his schedule to look the part.

Ishant Bhanushali
TV show: Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanuman (2015)
Seven year old Ishant played the younger Hanuman in the show. The show depicts the life of the God since his childhood, and the makers felt that no one had really delved with the childhood of Hanuman and it would find a connect with the kids across the country too.

Danish Akhtar Saifi
TV show:

Siya Ke Ram

(2015)
The actor who is a wrestler and has been trained by the Great Khali debuted on TV with this role. The actor trains for 6 hours in the ring to have a physique and takes three hours to get into the Hanuman look.

Vishal Kotian
TV show: Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev (2011) and Mahabharat (2013)
The actor stopped eating non-veg food and had to work very hard to maintain the physique for entire period that he enacted the role. He says, “I did not want to repeat myself but the makers of Mahabharat felt that I did it well in Mahadev and wanted me only for the show again.”

Other actors who played Hanuman

Malhar Pandya
TV show: Ramayan (2012)

Amit Tandon
TV show: Jeannie Aur Juju (2013)

Vikram Sharma
TV show: Ramayan (2008)

Raj Premi
TV show: Jai Hanuman (2008)