Actor Annu Kapoor has reignited an old controversy around Nitesh Tiwari's much-awaited Ramayana, questioning the casting of Sai Pallavi as Sita all over again in remarks that echo an interview he gave three years ago, even as the film's trailer is just days away from release.
An old comment resurfaces
Known widely for hosting Antakshari, Annu Kapoor was reacting to his own three-year-old remarks during a recent interview given to Zoom. Back then, he had been asked whether a story like Ramayana should even be brought to the big screen, and it was during that conversation that he first raised objections to Sai Pallavi's casting as Sita. In his latest interview, he simply repeated the same position, bringing the issue back into the spotlight.
Comparing the new film to Ramanand Sagar's classic
According to Annu Kapoor, there isn't much new that Nitesh Tiwari's team can really bring to the table with Ramayana. He argued that all the makers can do is take Ramanand Sagar's iconic version and make it grander with the help of modern technology, nothing more. He then turned his attention squarely to the casting, saying it was worth pausing to consider who had been chosen to play Sita. His reasoning was that Sita is regarded as a mother figure, and in a country where Hindus consider Shri Ramchandra to be an incarnation of Narayan, the choice of actress for such a significant role deserves scrutiny.
He says he doesn't even know the director
When he was directly asked whether he had any objection to the film's casting, Annu Kapoor steered the conversation toward the director's identity instead. He said he did not even know who Nitesh Tiwari was, nor did he have any idea what the director does professionally. "I don't watch films and I don't think I've missed anything," he said, making it clear that his distance from cinema is longstanding and, in his view, nothing to regret.
Trailer arrives July 24, first glimpse already a hit
Meanwhile, anticipation for Ramayana keeps building among audiences. The film's trailer is scheduled to release on July 24. A few months earlier, Nitesh Tiwari had already unveiled the first glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi as Ram and Sita, a reveal that drew a hugely positive response from viewers. The film's first chapter is set to hit theatres this year during Diwali, a release that has both the industry and audiences looking forward to it with considerable excitement. Despite Annu Kapoor's remarks, the buzz surrounding the film does not appear to be fading.
