As anticipation builds for Nitesh Tiwari’s magnum opus Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, an interesting casting revelation has surfaced. While actress Sai Pallavi is all set to play the pivotal role of Sita, it turns out she wasn’t the first choice. Actress Srinidhi Shetty, known for her role opposite Yash in KGF 2, recently confirmed that she was initially approached for the role and had even completed a screen test.
In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Srinidhi revealed that the makers of Ramayana were impressed with her screen test. “I remember preparing three scenes very nicely. They also had a great response and loved my test,” she shared. However, she chose to step away from the project upon learning that Yash had been cast as Raavan. Having shared an intense romantic arc with him in KGF 2, Srinidhi felt that seeing them as adversaries so soon would be jarring for the audience.
The actress elaborated, “People would have just seen us with so much love on-screen, and then for them to digest us together but as enemies would be strange.” Citing concerns over audience perception, Srinidhi gracefully opted out, stating she wanted the storytelling to feel authentic without any unintended distractions.
Despite turning down the role, she expressed admiration for Sai Pallavi, calling her a “great choice” to portray Sita. “I’m really looking forward to seeing her bring the character to life,” Srinidhi added, showing full support for her contemporary.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is shaping up to be one of the biggest cinematic events in recent memory. Alongside Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi, the film boasts a star-studded ensemble including Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey, and Lara Dutta. With its release scheduled for November 2026, the mythological epic is already generating massive buzz across the nation.