Veteran actor Annu Kapoor has criticised Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, questioning the decision to cast Sai Pallavi as Sita. His remarks have reignited discussions surrounding the film’s casting choices.
During a recent interaction, Annu Kapoor also took a swipe at director Nitesh Tiwari, saying he did not know who the filmmaker was. He remarked that the film could become a technologically grand spectacle, drawing a comparison with Ramanand Sagar’s iconic Ramayan.
However, Annu Kapoor said his main concern was the casting of Sita. He pointed out that Sita is revered as a mother by millions of Hindus and questioned whether Sai Pallavi was the right choice for the role.
Sai Pallavi’s casting has already sparked debate on social media. Earlier this year, she faced criticism after a video from the promotional event of her upcoming film Ek Din went viral.
During the musical event Ek Din Ki Mehfil in Mumbai, Sai Pallavi addressed the audience in Hindi and admitted that she was not fluent in the language.
Following the event, some social media users questioned her casting in Ramayana. They argued that her limited fluency in Hindi could affect her portrayal of Sita, while others wondered whether her voice would be dubbed in the Hindi version.
At the same time, many fans defended the actress, saying acting ability should be the primary factor in casting and that language barriers can be addressed during production.
Produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana is being made as a two-part cinematic saga. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana, Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman.
Based on the ancient Indian epic, the film follows Lord Rama’s exile, the abduction of Sita and the battle against Ravana. The first part is scheduled for a worldwide IMAX release during Diwali 2026, while the second part is planned for Diwali 2027.
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Serious Issue ❓#AnnuKapoor raises concerns over #RanbirKapoor and #SaiPallavi ‘s roles as Lord Ram and Sita in #Ramayana ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/XlmOvHq2Iy
— Always Bollywood (@AlwaysBollywood) July 18, 2026
