MUMBAI: Actor Arun Mandola, who is known to play Lakshman in the show Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan, was invited by Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Honourable Yogi Adityanath to the city of Ayodhya for Deepotsav 2020 on Friday. As part of the big event, Arun landed in the city in a helicopter dressed in his character of Lakshman, while Gagan Malik was dressed as Lord Ram and Neha Sargam attended as Sita. 

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"We got the invitation letter from Uttar Pradesh Honourable Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji and Uttar Pradesh tourism department. They invited me as Lakshman in Ayodhya," he shares. 

It is not just the honour of getting invited to a place like Ayodhya, but also because Arun was the first artist to appear as Lord Lakshman. 

"This was an extremely special event for me. It is approximately 7000 years of glory with this temple. Six months back I was praying to God that I wish to be as Lakshman in Ayodhya. I am very spiritual, so this is not just an event for me, it's clearly God's blessing for me to be part of the grandeur.” 

He also adds, "When I go for events lof this canvaas people see me as God and they take selfies with us and we have to be very calm and polite because that time we are something else in that costume. It is a big responsibility for me to maintain that aura," he says.

In the pic left to right Neha Sargam Gagan Malik and Arun Mandola

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