Designing the sets for Rohit Shetty’s actioners is a challenge unto itself. But production designer Narendra Rahurikar, having worked on the Golmaal and Singham series, and Dilwale (2015), knows the world of a Shetty film inside out. For Rahurikar, building the world of a mythological drama is the bigger challenge. The realisation dawned on him as he began work on the period drama, Sita: The Incarnation, that sees Kangana Ranaut in the titular role.

A source from the creative team says that Alaukik Desai’s directorial venture traces Sita’s journey before she married Lord Ram. “The film will focus on the values of courage, dedication and purity that were embodied by Sita, the daughter of the earth and the adopted daughter of King Janaka of Mithila. As the oldest parts of the Ramayana date between the fifth and sixth century BCE, the team is doing intensive research of the ancient scriptures. Recce for the movie is underway to find the perfect location in India to construct huge sets of Mithila and other ancient cities.”

Rahurikar is no stranger to period dramas, having worked on the television show, Ahilyabai Holkar, and Bhuj: The Pride of India (2021). He, however, admits that The Incarnation: Sita demands a deep dive into the period. “All mythology sets are challenging as they need tremendous creativity. There are no real references or materials available from the era. So, we have to do our research through the Puranas, Vedas and granthas to ensure we are doing justice to this piece of history.”

The brief given by the director was simple—to design the film as “a mega mythological saga”. Rahurikar adds, “We are currently in the conceptualization and theming stage. Once that is complete, the designing will begin. Each element of the production will be made keeping the story, aesthetics and periodic sensibilities in mind.”

Narendra Rahurikar and Rohit Shetty

K V Vijayendra Prasad and Manoj Muntashir

Often explored on television, mythology is now piquing the interest of filmmakers. Joining the bandwagon with Omi Raut’s Aadipurush and Madhu Mantena’s rumoured Ramayana is Alaukik Desai’s Sita: The Incarnation. While all three films explore the life of Sita, writer-director K V Vijayendra Prasad, and dialogue writer-lyricist, Manoj Muntashir claim that their project focuses on Sita’s life before marriage.

Muntashir weighs in that the movie cannot be compared with other films on the same subject. “I don’t think one can draw parallels between Sita: The Incarnation and any other film. The time frames [of Sita’s life] showcased are different. Our film is female-centric and about a young Sita,” he says, adding that the language used will reflect the period while still catering to the masses. “While the film will reflect the language and divinity of that period, it will be easier to understand. [Have written the dialogues] keeping the beauty of the Hindi language in mind.”

Rumours suggested that Kareena Kapoor Khan and Alia Bhatt have been approached for the multilingual magnum opus. Refuting the claims, Prasad insists the search for a young actor is still underway. “I don’t think any actor has been approached for Sita’s role, to my knowledge. We have just started writing the script. Once done, we will search for a young actor to play the title role.” Penning the story of Sita, he adds, “The film will have considerable footage of a young Sita, showcasing her life before marriage to Ram.”

Writing the story from a female perspective comes easy to the Baahubali fame writer and he credits the achievement to Desai. “My job was made easier because of my director Alaukik, who has been researching the subject and has gathered abundant material in the last few years.”