'Ramayana's Raavan' Arvind Trivedi passes away, PM Modi pays tribute

Prolific Gujarati actor Arvind Trivedi, best known for his role as the asura king Raavan in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana, passed away due to a heart attack in Mumbai on Wednesday at the age of 82. The veteran actor of both screen and stage had been battling health issues for a long while according to his nephew Kaustubh Trivedi.

"We have lost Shri Arvind Trivedi, who was not only an exceptional actor but also was passionate about public service. For generations of Indians, he will be remembered for his work in the Ramayan TV serial. Condolences to the families and admirers of both actors. Om Shanti," tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in response to news of Trivedi's death.

From 1991-1996 Trivedi was a Lok Sabha MP in the BJP seat from Gujarat's Sabarkantha constituency and a chairman for the CBFC from 2002-2003.

Trivedi's oeuvre spans over 300 films in Hindi and Gujarati and is also known for acting in other mythological teleseries like "Vikram Aur Betaal" and "Vishwamitra", He is also the brother of actor Upendra Trivedi.