Sai Pallavi's Sita look in Ranbir Kapoor' 'Ramayana' faces scrutiny: 'How did the real Sita look?'

• TV actor Dipika Chikhalia reacted to Sai Pallavi's casting as Sita in Ramayana.
• She praised Sai Pallavi's acting but said the performance should be judged after release.
• Dipika recalled how Ramanand Sagar selected actors who matched the traditional descriptions.
• She spoke about being typecast after playing Sita for decades.
• The actress ended by wishing the entire cast and crew success.

The excitement around Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana continues to grow as the film prepares for its first major trailer launch. With Ranbir Kapoor playing Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi portraying Sita, the casting has become one of the biggest talking points among fans.

TV actor Dipika Chikhalia, who became a household name as Sita in Ramanand Sagar's legendary television series, recently shared her thoughts on the new adaptation. She also reflected on the original Ramayan, Arun Govil's return to the franchise, and the challenges she faced after becoming forever identified with the role of Sita.

Dipika Chikhalia reacts to Sai Pallavi playing Sita

Speaking to Variety India, Dipika Chikhalia said Sai Pallavi is an outstanding performer but believes audiences should wait to see her portrayal before making any judgments. "I have seen her work. She's a phenomenal actor. But I don't know how she'll look like Sita. Once we see her, we'll know. At the moment, I have no clue. The description of Sita in Tulsidas' Ramayan was that of a woman with almond eyes, a certain height, hair and skin. That's what Ramanand Sagar was looking for, and he saw it in me. I know all of them are good actors. If they fit the bill, then it's good," she said.

Dipika also welcomed Arun Govil's return to the Ramayana universe. The actor, who famously played Lord Ram in the television series, will now portray King Dashrath in Nitesh Tiwari's film.

Why Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan still holds a special place

Dipika believes Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan remains deeply rooted in the hearts of viewers. She said its popularity grew even more after the series was re-aired during the COVID-19 pandemic, introducing it to a younger generation. "We're known for what we are. I'm known as Sita. Sometimes, people forget my name, but they remember that I played Sita. So, that's my identity. I don't know why anybody would want to lose that. Of course, as an actor, you want to play different roles. Nobody wants to get typecast."

She also shared her thoughts on how closely audiences still connect her with the role. "I think our Ramayan will weigh very heavily on the Ramayana film. Our Ramayan was also watched by the new generation when it aired on Doordarshan during the pandemic. So, it's very difficult to erase that. Sitaji with curly hair is not mentioned in Ramayan."

Typecasting, new Ramayana, and the question: How did the actual Sita look?

Dipika admitted that playing Sita became both a blessing and a professional challenge. She revealed that after the show's massive success, she struggled to find different kinds of roles because audiences could not imagine her as anyone else. "I didn't get any work. In fact, I'm asking people for work even now. Ranbir has acted in Barfi, Sanju and Animal, and now he is playing Lord Rama. That's the beauty of today's time. It wasn't like that during our days. We all got typecast. It's still very tough to get work because people can't see me as anyone else. That's why I got into production."

She also spoke about Yash taking on the role of Ravana and expressed confidence in his performance. "I've seen a little bit of Yash's work. I'm sure he'll be dynamic. But the thing is that erasing the old Ramayan will be very difficult. Also, it's very recent. Had the film come out 50 years later, people would have forgotten Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan and the cast. Right now, it's still very fresh in their minds."

Despite comparing the two versions, Dipika wished the new team well. "All these are talented people. I'm sure it will be a film people want to watch at least once. The crux of Ramayan was that every actor who played that character fit the bill. That, along with Ravindra Jain's music, was the reason behind the success of Ramayan."

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is planned as a two-part adaptation of the epic. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, along with Rakul Preet Singh, Kunal Kapoor, Lara Dutta, Arun Govil, Sheeba Chaddha, and Adinath Kothare.

Dipika's comments have also reignited discussions about the traditional descriptions of Sita in ancient texts. While artistic interpretations continue to evolve with each adaptation, many fans are once again asking the same question: How did the actual Sita look?