With Ramayana hitting theatres on November 4, Sai Pallavi is once again in the spotlight, this time for bringing one of Indian mythology’s most revered female characters, Sita, to the big screen. But away
from the much-anticipated film and its grand scale, the actor has also been making headlines for a rather candid conversation about her personal life.
During her appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, alongside her Ramayana co-stars Ranbir Kapoor and Ravi Dubey, Sai opened up about the qualities she hopes to find in a future partner. And her checklist has less to do with conventional ideas of romance and more to do with kindness, emotional maturity and the ability to take responsibility for one’s actions.
For starters, she wants someone who is genuinely a good person and isn’t overly self-centred. But that is only the beginning. She also values introspection, self-awareness and, most importantly, accountability.
Explaining her expectations, Sai said she would want someone who regularly reflects on his own behaviour and understands where he stands in life. Making mistakes, according to her, is only human. What matters is whether a person recognises those mistakes and makes an effort to correct them.
She particularly doesn’t want someone who shifts the blame onto another person or justifies his actions by pointing fingers. In other words, the familiar ‘she did this, so I did this’ excuse isn’t going to make the cut.
And just when her answer began sounding like a rather comprehensive relationship guide, Sai added one more requirement with a smile: her future partner should ideally know how to cook!
Acknowledging that she was probably making the list sound longer than it actually was, the actor clarified that, at the end of the day, her biggest expectation was simple: he should be a good person. The ability to cook would simply be an added bonus.
Why Sai Pallavi’s idea of an ideal partner makes so much sense
There is something particularly interesting about the qualities Sai has chosen to highlight. She hasn’t spoken about grand gestures, extravagant lifestyles or even the conventional markers of an ideal partner. Instead, her emphasis is on the everyday behaviour that determines whether two people can actually build a life together.
Being introspective means being willing to look at one’s own actions instead of constantly finding faults in others. Accountability means accepting that even when disagreements happen, one cannot always be right. And being able to correct one’s mistakes is perhaps one of the most underrated qualities in any relationship.
It is also worth noting that Sai isn’t expecting someone who never makes mistakes. Quite the opposite. She acknowledges that mistakes are inevitable but believes that recognising them and making amends is what matters.
Her answer also brings attention to something many people tend to overlook while looking for a partner: emotional maturity. Chemistry might make two people interested in each other, but self-awareness, kindness and the willingness to take responsibility are what can help a relationship stand the test of time.
And, of course, knowing how to cook is hardly a bad addition to the list. After all, sharing kitchen responsibilities is a rather practical quality in a relationship!
From playing Sita to speaking about relationships
The KBC appearance comes at an important time in Sai Pallavi’s career, with the actor stepping into one of the most revered characters in Indian mythology. She plays Sita opposite Ranbir Kapoor’s Lord Rama in filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious two-part adaptation of the Ramayana.
The first instalment, titled Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, arrives in theatres on November 5, 2026, with the second part scheduled for Diwali 2027. The film features an expansive ensemble cast, including Yash as Ravana, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Arun Govil as Dasharatha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi and Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari.
Playing Sita has clearly been a deeply personal experience for Sai. In an earlier interaction, the actor spoke about approaching the character with considerable reverence, revealing that she would meditate before filming and pray for Sita Maa to guide her performance. She has also spoken about how playing such a revered figure is not something an actor can approach casually or simply through conventional preparation.
For Sai, the role was less about imposing her own interpretation and more about understanding the responsibility that came with portraying a character so deeply rooted in people’s faith and cultural memory.
With Ramayana marking another significant chapter in her acting journey, her appearance on KBC offered audiences a glimpse of the person behind the much-anticipated character. And if her answer about a future partner is anything to go by, Sai seems to place considerable importance on kindness, self-reflection and taking responsibility.
A good human being first, someone who knows how to own up to his mistakes next, and a man who can cook? That doesn’t sound like an unreasonable list at all.
