Sai Pallavi on playing Sita in 'Ramayana': 'Film will become history'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Actress Sai Pallavi, who is set to portray Sita Maa in the highly anticipated film 'Ramayana', has opened up about the spiritual and emotional preparation that went into approaching the iconic role. Speaking on 31 October during an appearance on the popular quiz reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati, she revealed that prayer and meditation were central to how she handled the immense responsibility of the character.
The Weight of Portraying a Sacred Figure
In a candid conversation with megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Sai Pallavi described the reverence she felt toward the role and why she turned to spirituality as her primary preparation tool. She stressed that the film transcends ordinary cinema and will endure as a cultural and historical document for future generations.
Sharing her mindset, Sai Pallavi said, 'Maine iss patra ke liye sirf prayer kiya aur prarthana kiya ki main jitne bhi obstacles ho mujhe voh patra karne mein, voh saare obstacles nikal jaaye. Kyuki hum jo film bana rahe hain, voh sirf film nahi hain voh itihaas bhi banega aur aage ka generations bhi dekhega... Uss samay voh dignity honi chahiye, toh main sirf prarthana hi kar rahi thi for this role.'
Translated, she explained: 'For this role, I only prayed and asked that whatever obstacles I might face in portraying this character would be removed. Because the film we are making is not just a film — it will also become a part of history, and future generations will watch it when none of us will be here. At that time, the portrayal should have dignity. So, I was simply praying for this role.'
Meditation as a Tool for Stress and Performance
Sai Pallavi also elaborated on how mindfulness shaped her approach to high-pressure situations during filming. She described a personal transformation in how she responds to stress, drawing directly from the character she was embodying.
She said, 'Aisa nahi hain, actually agar main meditate nahi karungi toh mujhe aur saare thoughts aate hain... During playing this character, I learnt ki main jabhi bhi koi stressful situation mein hoon, I realised you should just witness it rather than just acting towards it. Whenever I used to come across a stressful situation, I started thinking how Sita Maa would have reacted — so this is what I feel I learnt from Sita Maa's character.'
In essence, she described learning to observe stressful moments rather than react to them — a quality she attributed directly to internalising Sita Maa's temperament and grace.
About the Film and Its Cast
The film 'Ramayana' stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Ravie Dubey as Lord Lakshman, and is directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The project has generated significant anticipation given its scale and the cultural weight of the source material. Sai Pallavi's casting as Sita Maa drew widespread attention at the time of its announcement, and her remarks on Kaun Banega Crorepati are likely to further heighten interest ahead of the film's release.
A Role That Changed Her
Notably, Sai Pallavi framed the role not merely as a professional challenge but as a personal journey that reshaped her emotional responses off-screen as well. Her account positions 'Ramayana' as more than a big-budget production — for her, it was an exercise in embodying dignity under pressure, a lesson she intends to carry beyond the film set. The project is widely expected to be one of the most significant Indian cinematic releases in recent years.