Shiv Sagar Reveals How Vikram Aur Betaal Was Shot in a Garage as a Precursor to Ramayan
In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Shiv Sagar, grandson of filmmaker Ramanand Sagar and son of Prem Sagar, shared insights into the making of the classic television series Vikram Aur Betaal. Directed and co-produced by Prem Sagar, the show served as a creative precursor and test marketing step prior to the production of Ramanand Sagar’s television epic, Ramayan.
What Happened
Shiv Sagar explained that Vikram Aur Betaal was created under strict financial constraints. Each episode was produced on a budget of approximately Rs. 1 lakh, with nearly Rs. 80,000 directly allocated toward production costs. Due to these limited funds, the team could not afford to build elaborate studio sets. Instead, they converted a large hall inside the garage of their residence, Sagar Villa, into a complete set where the show was both filmed and edited.
The series also functioned as a practical test to assess whether audiences would accept mythological and traditional storytelling elements, such as traditional attire and headgear. It featured actors who later played key roles in Ramayan, including Arun Govil and Arvind Trivedi.
Key Highlights
- Vikram Aur Betaal operated on a budget of roughly Rs. 1 lakh per episode, with around Rs. 80,000 spent on production expenses.
- The entire series was filmed and edited in a converted garage hall at the Sagar family home, Sagar Villa.
- The show served as test marketing to gauge audience acceptance of traditional themes and costumes before launching Ramayan.
- Arun Govil played King Vikramaditya in the series before starring as Lord Rama in Ramayan.
- Arvind Trivedi played the tantric before being cast as Ravana in Ramayan.
- Because production took place at home, children from the family, including Shiv Sagar, were occasionally cast when child actors were required for minor scenes.
Why This Matters
The details shared by Shiv Sagar highlight how resourcefulness and narrative skill enabled the production team to deliver a popular television series despite severe budgetary limits. The project laid the groundwork for testing viewer engagement, actor pairings, and thematic presentation before the Sagar family embarked on producing Ramayan.
What to Watch Next
A upcoming documentary detailing how Ramanand Sagar created the epic series Ramayan without using green screens or visual effects is expected to release prior to Namit Malhotra’s film Ramayana.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed and produced Vikram Aur Betaal?
The series was directed and co-produced by Prem Sagar, son of Ramanand Sagar.
Where was Vikram Aur Betaal filmed?
The show was shot and edited in a large hall located in the garage of Sagar Villa, the Sagar family’s residence.
How much did each episode of Vikram Aur Betaal cost to produce?
Each episode had a budget of approximately Rs. 1 lakh, with nearly Rs. 80,000 going directly to production costs.
Source: Bollywood Hungama interview with Shiv Sagar.