📌 Key Points
- Dipika Chikhlia, famed for playing Sita, initially disapproved of remakes of the Ramayana.
- She expressed concerns about new adaptations altering the core story and its essence.
- After watching the teaser of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, she seems to have softened her stance.
- Director Nitesh Tiwari highlights the dedication and emotional investment in the film.
Dipika Chikhlia, who famously portrayed Sita in the classic Ramayan TV series, has seemingly changed her opinion about the new ‘Ramayana’ adaptation starring Ranbir Kapoor. This shift in perspective follows the release of the film’s teaser.
Dipika Chikhlia’s Initial Hesitations
She seems to have changed her mind as she told the publication in June 2024, “Honestly, I am quite disillusioned by people who keep making Ramayan because I don’t think you should be doing it. People are making a mess of it. I don’t think people should be making Ramayan again and again because every time they make it, they want to bring in something new; a new story, a new angle, a new look.” Dipika had also slammed Om Raut’s Adipurush in the interview.
Dipika became a household name in the late 1980s when Ramayan was telecast on Doordarshan. Her portrayal of Sita was widely loved for its grace and simplicity. Arun Govil played Rama, Arvind Trivedi was Ravana, Sunil Lahri was Lakshman, and Dara Singh was Hanuman in the show.
The Teaser That Changed Her Mind
The teaser offers a brief look at Ranbir as Rama as it hints at various chapters from Ramayana. Sai, Yash and other characters’ looks have yet to be revealed in the film. “To reach till this moment, it has personally taken me seven years. Filmmaking is a speculative and lonely process. Every moment of these seven years, I’ve imagined this moment as to what the reaction would be when it comes out,” said Nitesh at the teaser launch.
He emotionally added, “Today, looking at your reaction, I feel the seven years are worth those seven years. A lot of people have worked on this film. We hope we get much love from you all.”
Nitesh Tiwari’s Seven-Year Journey
“We’ve made this (film) with a lot of love. Before you let it go, there’s a feeling of wanting to keep it, and we are like, ‘Are we ready to share it?’ Thanks to Nitesh and the team who have worked hard to put this labour of love. I’m proud of what we’ve put out. I hope you all have loved it. You don’t pick Ramayana, Ramayana picks you,” said Namit.
Ramayana: Part 1 will be released in theatres on Diwali 2026 and Part 2 will be released on Diwali 2027.
Dipika Chikhlia’s revised opinion adds intrigue to the upcoming ‘Ramayana.’ The film, a seven-year labor of love for Nitesh Tiwari, now faces heightened anticipation from both fans of the epic and those who cherish the original TV series.
