Actor Surabhi Das has come out in support of Sai Pallavi amid the ongoing debate surrounding her portrayal of Goddess Sita in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. Responding to criticism over Sai Pallavi’s “modern” styling in the film’s recently released trailer, Surabhi urged audiences not to judge the performance based on brief promotional visuals, saying it is impossible to satisfy everyone.
The controversy began after the trailer for Ramayana generated massive buzz online. While audiences widely praised the film’s scale, visual effects and performances, a section of social media users questioned Sai Pallavi’s costumes, arguing that her sarees and blouses looked too contemporary for a mythological epic set in the Treta Yuga. Similar criticism was also directed at Lara Dutta’s appearance as Kaikeyi, sparking a broader debate over the film’s costume design.
Speaking about the backlash, Surabhi, who plays one of Sita’s sisters in the film, defended Sai Pallavi’s look and said viewers should reserve their judgement until they watch the complete film. “You can’t please everyone,” she remarked, adding that every creative interpretation will attract differing opinions. According to Surabhi, the team has worked with sincerity and audiences should experience the story in its entirety before drawing conclusions.
The actor also expressed admiration for Sai Pallavi, describing her as someone who embodies grace, simplicity and humility. Surabhi said working alongside Sai had been a valuable experience and praised her dedication to the role. She added that audiences would better appreciate the performance once the film reaches theatres, rather than relying solely on a few glimpses from the trailer.
Surabhi’s comments echo similar support extended by veteran actor Dipika Chikhlia, who famously portrayed Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s iconic television adaptation of the Ramayana. Dipika recently expressed confidence that audiences would eventually embrace Sai Pallavi’s portrayal once they watched the completed film, despite the current social media debate.
Meanwhile, the makers of Ramayana have also responded to the costume controversy. Designers Rimple and Harpreet Narula urged audiences not to pass judgement before seeing the complete narrative, explaining that every design choice was made after extensive research and in consultation with the filmmakers. They maintained that the costumes would make greater sense within the broader visual language of the film.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The ensemble cast also includes Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. Ever since the trailer’s release, the film has remained one of the most talked-about upcoming Indian productions, with discussions ranging from its VFX and performances to its visual interpretation of the revered epic.
Despite the criticism, the overwhelming response to the trailer has remained positive, with many viewers praising the film’s ambition and cinematic scale. Surabhi believes the debate reflects the emotional attachment audiences have to the Ramayana, but insists that viewers should allow the filmmakers to tell their version of the story before forming opinions. As anticipation builds ahead of the film’s release, Sai Pallavi’s portrayal of Sita continues to be one of its most closely watched aspects.