Telugu star Sai Pallavi has sparked an online controversy after an old video from a January 2022 interview resurfaced. In the video, Pallavi, set to play Sita in Nitesh Tiwari’s high-budget Ramayana, reflects on perceptions of military forces across borders, saying, “People in Pakistan think our army is a terrorist group. But for us, it is them.” Her words, meant to convey the subjectivity of perspectives, have been widely criticized, with some social media users accusing her of undermining the Indian Army.
The backlash intensified as some expressed concerns over her upcoming portrayal of Sita, with critics questioning her suitability for the role. Supporters of the actor, however, argue her comments were misconstrued, advocating that she intended to speak against violence in general. Pallavi, who previously took on social issues, has not yet responded to the criticisms.
This controversy arrives as anticipation builds for Ramayana, which also stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and KGF’s Yash as Ravana. Despite efforts to maintain secrecy on set, several leaked photos of Pallavi and Kapoor in character as Sita and Ram have already gone viral, fueling public excitement for the December 2024 release.
Whether the remarks affect Pallavi’s image or the film’s success remains uncertain, though her role in Ramayana is expected to be her breakthrough in Bollywood.