Veteran actor Annu Kapoor has stirred fresh discussion around the upcoming film Ramayana by questioning the casting of Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita and stating that he is unfamiliar with director Nitesh Tiwari.
In a recent interview with Zoom, Kapoor revisited his earlier remarks about adapting timeless epics like the Ramayana for the big screen. He suggested that while modern filmmakers may create a visually grand version of the epic, the casting of key characters remains equally important.
Expressing his views on Sai Pallavi’s portrayal of Sita, Kapoor said audiences should consider who has been chosen to play the revered character. He remarked that for many Hindus, Lord Ram is regarded as an incarnation of Narayan and Sita is deeply revered, adding that people can form their own opinions once the film is released.
When asked if he disagreed with the casting, Kapoor shifted his focus to director Nitesh Tiwari, saying he did not know who the filmmaker was. He added that he does not regularly watch films and therefore was unfamiliar with Tiwari’s work.
Despite the remarks, excitement around Ramayana continues to grow ahead of its trailer launch. The makers are scheduled to unveil the film’s first trailer at a grand event in Delhi on July 24, with the cast and key members of the production team expected to attend.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita. The ensemble cast also includes Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, along with Lara Dutta, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan, Rakul Preet Singh, Adinath Kothare and Kunal Kapoor in significant roles.
The first instalment of the two-part mythological epic is slated for a Diwali 2026 release.