Ramayana: Alia Bhatt Was Once Called 'Sita Ma', Why Didn't She Get Cast In Ranbir Kapoor's Film?

Ramayana: At the recently held teaser launch in LA, Ranbir Kapoor lauded Sai Pallavi as Sita and said that there couldn’t have been a better casting choice for her role. However, much before the official announcement was made, there were reports that Ranbir Kapoor’s wife and actor Alia Bhatt was in talks for the role in the big-budget film.

Why Did Alia Bhatt Not Get Cast As Sita?

While neither Ranbir Kapoor nor Alia Bhatt had confirmed these reports, there was significant speculation on social media. Pinkvilla had even reported that Alia Bhatt finally had to walk away from the project due to date issues. Some fans of the actress were left upset; however, they were still excited to see Ranbir as Ram.

Alia Bhatt Reacted To Being Called ‘Sita’

The buzz didn’t die down till the official announcement was made. Once, at the airport

in Mumbai, the paparazzi even called Alia “Sita ma’am” and “Sita ma”. The actress just said, “Arre”, and walked past the shutterbugs, brushing off the comments. Some social media users had speculated that this could have been a publicity stunt by the actress.

Have a look at the video here:

Paps call Alia ‘Sita Maa’
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u/iutlka in
BollyBlindsNGossip

Ranbir Kapoor Says Sai Pallavi Was The Best Choice

Now, Ranbir Kapoor has affirmed that Sai Pallavi was the best choice for the role. Speaking to the media and fans in LA, the actor said, “We all know Sai is such a brilliant actor. You know, she’s accomplished so much. The first day, I remember, when I saw her as Sita, I just looked at Nitesh sir, and we both just knew that we couldn’t have cast someone better than her.”

Ramayana Cast

Meanwhile, the teaser was launched in India on April 2 on Hanuman Jayanti. Ramayana: Part 1 brings together a wide ensemble, including Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The film combines Indian storytelling traditions with global filmmaking expertise, including music by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman.

What Is Ramayana Part 1’s Release Date?

The narrative follows Rama’s journey alongside Sita and Lakshman, leading to a larger cosmic conflict that has been central to the epic for centuries. The first part of Ramayana is set to release in theatres globally during Diwali 2026, with the second part scheduled for Diwali 2027.