By :- Prakarsh Kastwar
Veteran actress Deepika Chikhlia, best known for portraying Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s iconic television series “Ramayan,” has shared her candid opinion on Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film “Ramayana.”
In an exclusive conversation with Amar Ujala Digital, Chikhlia reacted to the teaser of the high-budget film, which stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita. While she praised the visual effects, she expressed concerns about whether the emotional depth and spiritual essence of the original epic would remain intact.
“Ramayan is not just about graphics, it’s a story of emotions”
Speaking about the teaser, she said, “Honestly, I liked the visual effects. But Ramayan is not about graphics or technology. It is an emotional journey. The teaser is grand, but I couldn’t feel the soul in it. The lighting, the tones — everything felt quite modern. When we did Ramayan, there was limited technology, but people connected deeply with it.”
On Ranbir Kapoor as Ram: “I was reminded of Arun Govil”
Commenting on Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram, Chikhlia shared an emotional response. “The moment I saw Ranbir as Ram, I was reminded of Arun Govil. For the past 35-40 years, he has been Ram for all of us. It’s hard for me to imagine anyone else in that role.”
On Sai Pallavi as Sita: “She’s different from me but will do justice to the role”
While speaking about Sai Pallavi’s casting as Sita, Deepika expressed cautious optimism. “She is a very good actress. I’ve seen her Malayalam films and admire her natural acting. I believe she will do justice to Sita’s character. Yes, she is different from me, but she will do her part well.”
“It’s hard to see familiar faces as gods”
Chikhlia reflected on how new actors might struggle to be accepted as divine characters. “Back then, we were new faces. That made it easier for people to accept us as Ram and Sita. Today’s actors have done many roles, and the audience already has a perception of them. It’s not easy to suddenly start seeing them as gods.”
On Arun Govil playing Dashrath: “It’s hard to see him as anyone other than Ram”
Reacting to Arun Govil’s new role as King Dashrath in the film, she said emotionally, “When I saw his look as Dashrath on social media, my first thought was — this is Ram Ji. His face still reflects the same peace and divinity. It’s hard for me to see him as someone else.”
“I am only Sita” – Deepika declines any other role in Ramayana
Deepika Chikhlia also revealed that she was not approached for a role in the film. But even if she had been, she would not have accepted any role other than Sita. “I’ve always said, I am Sita. I cannot see myself as anyone else in Ramayan. If it was Mahabharat, maybe I would have thought about it. But not in Ramayan.”
“Ramayan is not just watched, it’s felt”
On the film’s estimated ₹850 crore budget, Deepika emphasized the need for spiritual and emotional depth. “Ramayan is not just a story; it’s about relationships and devotion. You don’t need money to show that — you need emotion. My only concern is that in the pursuit of grandeur, the soul of the story might get lost. The real Ramayan is the one that touches hearts and stirs devotion.”