“You Can’t Explain Spirituality to Anyone”: Arun Mandola Opens Up on the Essence of Historical and Spiritual Storytelling!

Actor Arun Mandola, Known for His Roles in Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan and Ramayan Manchan, Emphasizes That Research and Spiritual Depth Must Take Precedence Over Big Budgets.

With historical and spiritual narratives experiencing a significant renaissance across Indian cinema, television, and theatre, actor Arun Mandola believes that creators must deeply understand their subject matter before bringing sacred stories to the screen.

Mandola, who played Lakshman in Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan and Vighnaharta Ganesh, and recently portrayed Shri Ram in the Mumbai stage production Ramayan Manchan, shared his candid perspective on the current wave of epic projects—including Namit Malhotra’s upcoming Ramayana and Dr. Vishal Chaturvedi’s Hanuman Ansh (the biographical feature on Neem Karoli Baba).

Addressing the trend, Mandola observed that commercial interests sometimes overshadow authentic research:

“The ones who are making projects now, and those who copy, often don’t do deep research because they are commercialising. I am not saying commercialising is wrong, but spiritual depth should always be the root of any historical or mythological project.”

Drawing a comparison with landmark classics, Mandola highlighted the timeless devotion of legendary storyteller Ramanand Sagar:

“Look at Ramanand Sagar ji—his projects were not driven purely by commercial motives. In his work, that depth, that devotion, that spirituality, and that meticulous research were inherently present. The rest who are making it now are mostly copying and pasting. Research remains essential, no matter how much money you have behind you.”

Citing high-budget spectacles as an example, Mandola noted that a massive budget cannot compensate for a lack of genuine spiritual conviction:

“Some filmmakers have ₹500 crore budgets, but lack that core spirituality. You can’t explain spirituality to anyone. You can’t just tell anyone. You have to see it and feel it.”

Concluding on the long-term legacy of current historical projects, Mandola added:

“They are doing it without research. It may work commercially at the box office, but it will not leave a lasting impact on the audience’s hearts.”

By Keerti Kadam