With Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious adaptation ofRamayana”, Deepika Chikhalia, who passed Ramanand SagarLegendary TV series Ramayana shares her thoughts on the new cast. talking about Sai Pallavi Taking on iconic roles, Deepika praised the actor’s talent while admitting she’s waiting to see how she embodies the character on screen.
Deepika Chikhalia comments on Sai Pallavi’s casting
Deepika praised Sai Pallavi’s acting abilities but believed that the audience can only judge his performance after the film is released.She told Variety India, “I have seen her work. She is a wonderful actor. But I don’t know what she will look like. Once we see her, we will know. At the moment, I don’t know. The description of Sita in Tulsidas’s Ramayana is that of a woman with almond-shaped eyes, a certain height, hair and skin. That’s what Ramanand Sagar was looking for and he saw that in me. I know they are all good actors. If they fit the bill, that’s great.“
Deepika Chikhalia’s first day on set wasn’t Sita-like
Recalling her early days in Ramanand Sagar’s classic TV series, Deepika revealed that she was first cast as goddess Lakshmi before eventually being cast as Sita.She shared, “My first day in Ramayana was not to play Sita. I was Goddess Lakshmi. We did a seven-day episode for Durdarshan. I was just pressing Lord Vishnu’s feet during those seven days. I don’t know what the future of the show will be. Papaji (Ramanand Saron) said, if this gets green light, then Ramayana will be made.”
The original Ramayana still holds a special place for Deepika Chikaria
asked Arun GovilDeepika, who played Lord Ram in the TV series and now plays King Dashrat in Ramayana, reflects on the lasting impact of the original show and why she thinks the show’s legacy remains unparalleled.Chikaria said, “We are known for our identity. I am called Sita. Sometimes, people forget my name but they remember me playing Sita. So, that is my identity. I don’t know why anyone wants to lose it. Of course, as an actor, you want to play different characters. No one wants to be typecast. I think our Ramayana will create a big audience in the generation when Doordarshan airs.” So, it’s very difficult to erase it. There is no mention of curly-haired Sitaji in the Ramayana. “
Typecasting changed Deepika Chikhalia’s career
Deepika admits that playing Sita brought huge recognition but also made it difficult for filmmakers to imagine her in a different role.She explained, “I didn’t get any job. In fact, even now I am asking people for jobs. Ranbir, who has acted in Barfi!, Sanju and Animals, is now playing Lord Rama. That’s the beauty of today’s times.” That was not the case in our time. We are all stereotyped. It’s still hard to find a job because people don’t see that I’m like everyone else. That’s why I got into production. “
Ramayana cast and release date
Ramayana has one of the largest casts in Indian cinema. Ranbir Kapoor Starring Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi plays the role of Sita. Yash will play the villain Ravana, Sunny Deol will play Lord Hanuman and Ravi Dubey will play Lakshman. The cast also includes Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, Arun Govil as King Dashkive, Viji Dashkive as Voik (Vidyutjihva), Kunal Kapoor as Lord Indra, Adinath Kothare as Bharata, and Anupam Kher as the voice of Jatayu.
