Deepika Chikhalia On Sai Pallavi's Casting In Ramayana: Tulsidas' Sita Had Almond Eyes, Certain Hair, Skin...

Deepika

Chikhalia has shared her thoughts on Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Rama and Sai Pallavi as Sita. The veteran actor, who attained iconic status as Sita in Ramanand Sagar's legendary television adaptation, has spoken about the challenge of recreating one of the most beloved characters in Indian mythology, as excitement builds for the upcoming Bollywood epic. Lauding her latest counterpart, Sai Pallavi, who plays the divine role on screen, Chikhalia lauded the Kannada star's acting abilities while also confessing that she has no clue how Sai will essay the character of Sita until the audience watches the final act on screen.

Deepika Chikhalia on Sai Pallavi’s casting

Speaking to Variety India, Chikhalia opined on Ramayana's casting. She said she admired Sai's onscreen work and talent. But, according to her, to play Sita is more than an acting job. "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," Chikhalia said.She remembered Ramanand Sagar was looking for someone matching those descriptions, and he finally picked her for the role. Chikhalia has some reservations but is sure that the filmmakers have picked the right performers who will be able to pull it off. "I know all of them are good actors. If they fit the bill, then it's good," she added.

Reflecting on her first day on Ramayan

Chikhalia remembered working with Ramanand Sagar in her initial days. Interestingly, her first appearance was not as Sita but as Goddess Lakshmi. She shot scenes with Lord Vishnu for a few days without knowing if the project would eventually morph into the iconic television series. The first episodes were approved, and then the production went ahead with the full adaptation of Ramayan."Sometimes, people forget my name, but they remember that I played Sita," she said. Of course, actors want to do different roles, but she feels that the legacy of Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan is very much etched in the public memory."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," she said.

How Ramayan transformed her career

Chikhalia said that while playing Sita made her a household name, it also restricted her career options. In contrast, she pointed out that Ranbir Kapoor's varied filmography before stepping into Rama's shoes was an example of how the industry has evolved.Arun Govil, who played Lord Ram opposite Chikhalia in the TV classic, will now be seen as King Dashrath in the upcoming movie. Asked about the casting, Chikhalia said that both she and Govil remain strongly identified with the characters they played decades ago.