Quick summary
- Sai Pallavi plays Sita in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part I, which opened in cinemas on 5 November 2026.
- A scene in which Sita fights with a sword has split viewers, according to The Times of India.
- Veteran actor Hema Malini praised the film’s casting and effects on 10 November.
- Actor Mukesh Khanna has criticised the scene as untrue to Valmiki’s text.
- Part 2 is slated for 2028.
Sai Pallavi’s version of Sita has become the most talked-about part of Ramayana: Part I, with applause from industry figures on one side and a loud objection to her sword-fighting scene on the other. The film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, reached cinemas on 5 November 2026, and by 10 November the debate over how its heroine should be portrayed was running as hard as the box office.
The film and its cast
According to The Times of India, the production is billed as Ramayana: Rise of a Legend. It is the first half of a two-part retelling of the epic. Ranbir Kapoor plays Rama, Yash plays Ravana, Sai Pallavi is Sita, Sunny Deol is Hanuman and Ravi Dubey plays Lakshmana. Namit Malhotra and Yash back the project.
The same report says the film has drawn a good response from audiences and critics, and that filmmakers including SS Rajamouli, Madhur Bhandarkar and Ram Gopal Varma have spoken well of it. The rapper Badshah singled out casting director Mukesh Chhabra on X, calling the choice of Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana “a master stroke”.
Praise from Hema Malini
On 10 November, Hema Malini posted her review on Instagram after watching the film in a theatre. She said she went in with “least expectations” because the story is so familiar, then found herself “pleasantly surprised” by the presentation and the special effects. She also called the casting of the lead roles apt and said the audience seemed transported to another era.
Her verdict on the technology was just as direct. In her words, the latest technical innovations made all the difference, and she described the result as a “completely unique experience” for Indian viewers.
The sword scene that split viewers
The criticism centres on sequences in which Sita takes up a sword against her enemies. As The Times of India reported, Mukesh Khanna objected in a YouTube vlog. He argued that Valmiki’s Ramayana does not show Sita fighting, and he took issue with a reported explanation from the producer that the scene draws on the Adbhuta Ramayana. His closing line to the makers was that they “should feel ashamed”.
That claim about the text has some support in the same report, which notes that Valmiki’s version does not show Sita fighting beside Rama, while other retellings, the Adbhuta Ramayana among them, include an episode in which she takes a fierce warrior form to defeat a powerful demon.
What the cast and makers say
Indira Krishnan, who appears in the film, told News18 that she understood the audience’s reaction. She said she never saw Sita as a warrior while watching the older television series. She also explained the thinking: the makers wanted to show that Sita is not weak and comes from a family where girls learn the sword. In her words, every woman in the film has her own strength.
Sai Pallavi addressed the training earlier, in a conversation with comedian Zarna Garg. She said the sword work needed practice and that the stunt team wanted it to look like a dance, “like a princess who is floating through with her swords”. Headlines this week also show other voices weighing in, including Dhanush, whose comment reported by Cinema Express was that “you can’t find another Sita”, and Dipika Chikhlia, who played Sita on television.
The box office behind the debate
Reports on the film’s earnings vary by measure. The Times of India says Ramayana: Part I has crossed Rs 600 crore worldwide. NDTV’s daily tracking headlines put the India figure at Rs 346 crore on day 5 and Rs 440 crore by day 6, and say it matched Jawan in reaching the fastest Rs 300 crore in Hindi net collections. Those are outlet estimates and the numbers use different bases, so treat them as indicative.
What happens next
Part 2 is slated for 2028, which leaves a long gap for the argument to continue. Neither Sai Pallavi nor the producers have yet answered Mukesh Khanna directly in the sources reviewed here. For more on the film industry, see our Movies and Celebrities coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Who plays Sita in Ramayana: Part I?
Sai Pallavi plays Sita. Ranbir Kapoor is Rama and Yash is Ravana, with Nitesh Tiwari directing.
Why are people criticising the film?
Some viewers and Mukesh Khanna object to a scene in which Sita fights with a sword, saying it is not in Valmiki’s Ramayana. The makers and cast say it shows her strength.
When is Ramayana Part 2 coming out?
Part 1 opened on 5 November 2026. According to The Times of India, the second part is slated for 2028.
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