For nearly four decades, Dipika Chikhlia has been closely identified with one role that became far bigger than a career milestone. Her portrayal of Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan (1987-88) made her a household name. While it brought her immense love and respect, it also shaped the kind of work that came her way. Today, the actress is not looking to distance herself from Sita, but to be seen beyond it. She wants to take on strong, meaningful roles that offer her creative satisfaction.

She says, “I think everyone gets stuck in an image. It comes with popularity. No one is to blame. You just have to give yourself time and gradually people begin to accept change.”

While Ramayan was the turning point in her career, it also influenced the choices she made thereafter. She recalls, “I started with films, but after doing my first film, I realised I wasn’t comfortable with people seetee maaroing at me. They wanted me to wear swimming costumes and do glamorous roles, but that didn’t align with my interests. I kept praying that I would do work that earned me respect. Things fell into place magically and Ramayan happened. If I hadn’t played Sita, I would probably have been just another heroine of the late ’80s and early ’90s, and my career would have been completely different.”

The image she built through Sita remains something she values, but Dipika now wants it to coexist with a wider range of work.

She adds, “I’m not going to call it a day until I get something meaningful. I want strong, powerful roles. I am a good actor, just give me a chance. There are so many opportunities today for actresses between 50 and 70. We can do much more than just play mothers and grandmothers. I’m slowly adapting myself to today’s times. I just want filmmakers to see me differently too. Unfortunately, we don’t get offered artistically satisfying work. Industry people are experimenting, and I hope they start experimenting with me now.”

Dipika is looking at films and OTT while ruling out the demanding schedule of daily television. She says, “I want to focus on films and OTT. I don’t think I can commit to television anymore because it is too time-consuming. I’ve received good offers, but working 22 days a month for 14 hours a day doesn’t work for me. I’ve never worked for money; I want creative satisfaction. I don’t want to reach the end of my career feeling that I played just one role and that’s what my life summarizes. I am far more.”

Dipika Chikhlia, who became synonymous with Sita after Ramanand Sagar’s TV hit Ramayan, says she is no longer rattled by new actors taking on the role. Reacting to Sai Pallavi playing Sita in the upcoming adaptation, Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, she says, “If it’s Sai Pallavi, she’s a fab actress,” adding that she has no doubt the actor “will perform well”.

But asked which contemporary actor she would have liked to see as Sita, Chikhlia picks Alia Bhatt. “She’s very spontaneous, and that’s the kind of person I am,” she says, adding, “She would have looked lovely as Sita.”

Long before Ranbir Kapoor’s epic Ramayana: Part 1, there was Ramanand Sagar’s landmark 1987 TV series Ramayan. Almost 40 years on, the late filmmaker’s grandson, Shiv Sagar, is bringing a documentary that will chronicle the making of the Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhlia-led show.

Shiv told mid-day that the 60-minute documentary is currently in post-production. “It will show what happened behind the scenes — including anecdotes, never-before-seen footage, and retakes — during the making of my grandfather’s Ramayan. We have interviewed the cast, crew, and technicians connected to the series. We have [archival] videos of my grandfather and father. Its working title is Behind The Scenes Of The Ramayan, and we are planning to release it in the Diwali week,” he said.

Diwali is also when Ramayana: Part 1 will hit the screens. Shiv’s documentary will be launched on Tilak channel on YouTube and played at the Ramanand Sagar Museum in Karjat.

Close to the museum is the Ram temple built by Shiv’s father Prem Sagar and him at their Karjat property. He would like to invite Kapoor and the Ramayana: Part 1 team to the temple. “My sister Shabnam Gupta has designed Ranbir and Alia’s [Bhatt] new home in Bandra. I’d love to invite Ranbir and the Ramayana team to our Ram temple.”

On the occasion of Ram Navami today, actor Gurmeet Choudhary, known for his portrayal as Lord Shri Ram in the TV show Ramayan, says that the festival reminds him of “faith, positivity, and staying grounded in life”. His observance of the day remains rooted in simplicity, as he tells us, “There are no elaborate festivities, just a quiet morning of prayers at home, spent in the company of my family.”

The festival, he says, goes beyond belief, bringing people together through “faith and positivity” while strengthening family and community bonds.

Reflecting on his journey, he shares, “After playing Ram, the feeling has become deeper. I celebrate it with more understanding and gratitude now.” The role, he adds, has made it more personal and instilled “a sense of responsibility to live by those values”.

That awareness, however, began right from the moment he was cast back in 2009: “I felt blessed and nervous at the same time. It was a huge responsibility that demanded not just preparation, but discipline and emotional control.”

The 42-year-old adds, “Maintaining calmness and dignity in every scene was challenging. Ram is very composed, so I had to control my emotions a lot.” That process, he admits, didn’t end when the shoot wrapped; it stayed with him, shaping the way he responds to situations in his everyday life. “One memory I cherish is when people would touch my feet, seeing me as Ram. It was very humbling,” he continues.

For Gurmeet, the true essence of Ram Navami lies beyond rituals: “It is an opportunity for self-reflection, it’s about being a better human, not just rituals. It’s about values and inner peace... In today’s fast life, Lord Ram’s values like honesty and respect are more important than ever.”

Kunal Kapoor, who began his Bollywood journey as a lead actor nearly two decades ago, is now making a mark in the south film industries, particularly in antagonist roles. Following his performances in Veeram (Malayalam) and Devadas (Telugu), Kunal shared that he feels more satisfied in his career, especially when portraying negative characters.

In an exclusive interview with Hyderabad Times, he spoke about his upcoming Telugu film Vishwambhara, where he stars alongside Chiranjeevi. “Playing an antagonist is more exciting than the protagonist. There are no rules to follow. For a long time, I was stuck in certain roles, but it’s incredible how south filmmakers are seeing me in a whole new way now,” he said.

Working with Chiranjeevi sir has been an absolute pleasure — he’s among the kindest and most supportive co-stars. He’s truly a legend, both on and off the screen. I’ve always been a huge fan of Chiranjeevi garu. Back in the day, I had a vast collection of videotapes, and Aaj Ka Goondaraj (Gang Leader in Telugu) along with his Hindi debut Pratibandh were part of it. The last film of his that stood out to me was Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy. Though he’s a Megastar on screen, he’s incredibly down to earth in real life. I remember during an action scene, I felt a slight twinge in my shoulder, and the first thing he asked was, ‘Is your shoulder okay?’ It’s rare to meet someone of his stature who is so thoughtful and concerned about everyone on set.

When I started, the roles I was offered were all very similar. Back then, a hero was expected to fit a certain mould, but now even the idea of a hero has changed. Audiences seem to prefer anti-heroes over traditional ones, and I feel fortunate to explore these grey-shaded characters, especially in south films. In the Malayalam film Veeram, I was given a role that no one in Hindi cinema was offering me end of the year.at the time. Director Jairaj saw something in me that the Hindi film industry didn’t, and I’m enjoying this new phase as an actor.

This is an incredible time for actors and technicians, with collaborations across industries becoming more common. South films like Baahubali, RRR, and Kalki 2898 AD have broken language barriers and are being watched nationwide. As an actor, it’s exciting to explore diverse roles in different regions. The content today is outstanding — like the Tamil film Maharaja, which became the most-watched film, largely thanks to OTT platforms making it accessible to wider audiences. It’s amazing to see people appreciating films beyond their language. Everywhere I’ve been, from Bombay to Hyderabad, people have been praising Vijay Sethupathi sir’s performance in that film.

I’m working on Jewel Thief with Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat, followed by a mythological project, Ramayana, alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, with shooting starting soon. I’ve also ventured into writing and recently completed a script for an action-packed vigilante series, which is set to begin production by the end of the year.

Straddling a modern-day actioner and a mythological drama comes easy to Ravi Udyawar. While he is gearing up for his directorial venture Yudhra’s release, he is equally excited about Ramayana, on which he serves as the visual artist. Before Nitesh Tiwari’s magnum opus, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita, went on floors in April, Udyawar spent years creating and designing the on-screen world.

“I have designed the film. I am an artist, and the makers wanted someone who could design it. So, I created the whole world and characters of Ramayana. But I can’t divulge more details. I would love to make more of such films because I love creating that world,” he says. Envisioned as a trilogy, the mythological drama also stars Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Hanuman.

Udyawar, who previously helmed Sridevi-starrer Mom (2017), believes the Indian audience deserves to see the country’s rich mythological stories play out on screen.

“People of the country are waiting for us to tell our stories. I am a geek of mythologies. All my films will have an undertone of that. The kids should be watching our fables and Panchatantra. The land that we come from has many more stories to offer.”

Actor Sunil Lahri, who played Lakshman on the iconic ’80s TV show Ramayan, feels it will be hard for actors Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi to find “acceptance” as Ram and Sita.

“From the [leaked pics], I liked his look and he will look perfect in that role. But I don’t know how much people will accept him as Ram,” he says, reasoning: “I feel that you should take someone who has no image or baggage. After doing something like Animal (2023), recently, it will be very difficult for people to see him in a role as different as Shri Ram. In coming out with this, he has to crush his earlier performances.”

Pallavi, on the other hand, doesn’t fit Lahri’s personal standard in terms of looks. “I’m not very convinced. In my mind, Sita has a very beautiful and perfect-looking face, and I don’t think Sai’s face has that perfection,” the 63-year-old opines, adding, “I don’t know how they are going to make this actress look that attractive that Ravan would fall for her.”

Lahri is also circumspect of actor-MP Arun Govil, who played Ram in Ramayan, playing Dashrath in Tiwari’s film. “He’s crushing his own personality. If something like that was offered to me, I wouldn’t have done that. For that matter, I wouldn’t have said yes to any other role [in a film based on the Ramayana],” Lahri signs off.

The change of production hands on Nitesh Tiwari’s directorial venture, based on the Ramayan, hasn’t particularly cleared obstacles in the filmmaking process. Following previous co-producer Madhu Mantena’s departure, it was supposed that the film would find a new direction; however, Mantena has reportedly asked for a pause in the filming process until he is appropriately compensated.

A source reveals that the shoot of Tiwari’s mythological offering has stalled after the copyright infringement case. “The shooting continued for a few days after the notice, but has been on hold since last week. The matter has to be resolved legally, and filming will only resume when a consensus on the matter is reached,” says the source associated with the film, which, apart from Kapoor as Lord Ram, also stars Sunny Deol, Yash, and Sai Pallavi.

While work on the offering isn’t currently underway, sources from the production house assert that the film has not been canned. Shooting, they say, is likely to commence in three weeks. “There are date-related issues that need to be addressed since Ranbir is expected to start [Sanjay Leela] Bhansali’s project later this year, and Sunny will move on to filming Border 2. Shooting will be scheduled in such a way that their absence doesn’t hamper the project. It will be shot in two parts, with the second edition eyeing a release date six months after the first part hits screens.”

mid-day reached out to Tiwari, who did not respond till press time.

Early this month, the Nitesh Tiwari-directed Ramayan ran into legal trouble owing to its intellectual property rights. The production house, Allu Mantena Media Ventures LLP, which originally owned the rights to the film, has been in negotiation with Prime Focus Technologies Limited since April for the transfer of ownership. However, the talks failed due to an incomplete payment to formalize the agreement.

While everyone assumed that the disagreement would stall the Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi-starrer, sources claim that the production team and director remain undeterred in their commitment to bringing the epic tale to life on the big screen.

A source from the set informs that there is no delay in work, saying, “It has been business as usual for [everyone on set]. We have been working relentlessly every day. There is no scope for stalling as bulk dates have been taken from the cast and crew.”

Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the project’s financing and production logistics, the spirit of collaboration prevails on set. “South actors Sai and Yash are committed until May-end. We will be filming a crucial sequence in Film City next week, and most of the cast will be present for the shoot,” added the source.

Nitesh Tiwari had certainly not imagined such a start to Ramayana. Only days after the filmmaker kicked off his magnum opus, pictures of Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi as Lord Ram and Sita leaked as they shot a sequence in Film City, Goregaon. The internet had a field day dissecting the actors’ looks in the mythological drama, which also stars Yash as Raavan. To avoid a similar situation in the future, we hear Tiwari has sprung into action and made changes to the schedule.

Considering Ramayana is one of the most anticipated films, a premature reveal affects its novelty. Understanding this, the filmmaker is said to have rejigged the schedule to prioritize indoor shoots.

A source from the set tells us, “Going forward, Nitesh sir has decided to focus on the indoor shoots, thus minimizing chances of another leak. The outdoor shoots will happen at night for the next few weeks. Also, additional private security has been hired to safeguard the set from paparazzi or fans lurking around for pictures.”

Right when the first part of the trilogy rolled, the makers had exercised a no-phone policy on the set. “That rule is non-negotiable. The unit will shoot continuously till the rains hit as Nitesh sir wants to complete a chunk by June. The makers are planning to shoot an elaborate portion later this week, which could become the announcement sequence. It is expected to be unveiled in June,” adds the source.

The candidature of Arun Govil, 72, who is contesting the Meerut Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket, could be seen as an attempt to capitalise on the popularity of Ramayan—the TV show that created an inextricable association between the veteran actor and Lord Rama—and the sentiment surrounding it.

While it is interesting to see how political parties leverage cultural and religious symbols for electoral gains, the outcome of the Meerut contest could ultimately depend on various factors, including the political landscape, local issues and voter preferences.

When mid-day met Govil on Tuesday, he was campaigning at Rukanpur Morna. Scores of residents showered flowers on his convoy amid cries of Jai Shri Ram. He said, “Even if I was staying in Mumbai, Meerut is my janmabhoomi [birthplace] and I am proud that I got a chance [to fight the election to represent Meerut in Parliament].”

He added, “I had never thought I would be contesting an election from Uttar Pradesh. But I had my mind set on doing social work for the people. Recently, when I received a call from a senior leader informing me that I had to contest the election, I was happy and excited about getting a chance to work for the people and that too from my birthplace.”

Govil was nominated as the BJP’s candidate on March 25, 2024. Since then he has started going on road shows and rallies in the constituency as well as meeting voters in its urban and rural parts.

Govil denied playing the religious card, saying, “I am contesting as Arun Govil. If people associate me with the character I played in Ramayan, what can I do? Meanwhile, people are happy to see me as a candidate and I have seen them responding well to my campaign over the past few days. Even if people have seen me on TV, it’s my job now to reach out to them.”

Asked what he would do for the people of Meerut should he emerge victorious, Govil said, “Any work is done following the official procedure. I will too follow the procedure and will try to do the best for the people.” The veteran actor appealed to citizens to come out and vote. “I am getting support from the people and the election results will prove this,” he concluded.

The Meerut Lok Sabha seat has 12,16,940 voters as per the 2019 data. Since 2009, it has been represented by BJP’s Rajendra Agrawal. In the 2019 poll, Agrawal secured 5,86,184 votes. The runner-up was BSP’s Haji Yaqoob Qureshi. The winning margin was 4,729 votes.

A local BJP worker said, “This time, the candidates are Sunita Verma of the Samajwadi Party, which is in alliance with the Congress, while Devvrat Tyagi is contesting on a BSP ticket. Seeing the two candidates, it seems that the BJP has a good chance of winning as the votes will be split between the three allies.”

In 2014, Agrawal secured 5,32,981 votes while the runner-up, Mohammad Shahid Akhlak of the BSP, won 3,00,655. Asked whether the sitting MP was unhappy with his party giving a ticket to Govil, the worker said Agrawal had won thrice and had done good work. “He is happy that Govil got the ticket and has been part of his campaign from day one,” he said.

Sonu Goswami, a resident, said, “Govil’s chances of victory are high. As an actor, he made Meerut famous across the world. We want such leaders who are not chasing fame, but working for the welfare of the people. I hope he brings about a lot of change in Meerut in the coming years.”

Arun Govil, who became a household name after essaying the role of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar’s TV serial Ramayan, has started a new chapter of his career by entering politics. The actor is super charged up about his political inning and admits that he has not yet decided if he will quit acting for politics. 

The actor will be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Meerut (UP) as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate. At the moment, he is busy with the rallies in the city itself.

“This is a fresh inning of my career away from the acting world. And I am really excited about it,” the 66-year-old tells us, adding, “So far, the transition into this world has been smooth for me. It is happening really well. I am busy rallying in and around the city, while the party workers are looking after other things. So, it is not at all hectic for me.”

When it comes to his motivation to enter the field, he reveals it is all about public welfare. He says, “My decision to enter politics has been a sudden one. I was offered a ticket earlier too, but at the moment, I didn’t accept it because I had no intention of coming into it. This time, I followed my gut and took it.”. 

Further sharing his view, the actor shares, “The sole motivation is to serve the public. I have been doing it spiritually and culturally through Ramayan. But it was not one-to-one, which I will get to do now.”  Will he balance his acting career with his political ambitions, or have you decided to quit acting? “I have not thought about it,” he ends.

Last month, mid-day had reported that filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari had to push the shoot of Ramayan to mid-April as the outfits were being reworked (No costumes, no katha, March 15). On Monday, the team began the look test with the new costumes at the set in Film City.

Simultaneously, the production team screened several artistes to zero in on the body doubles for Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, who will portray Lord Ram and Raavan respectively. This preparation sets the stage for the shoot today.

Beginning today, the cast—including leading lady Sai Pallavi—will face the camera for what is easily one of Bollywood’s most anticipated films at the moment. The next few days will be hectic for the unit.

A source reveals, “After the body doubles are locked, they will be called throughout the week to shoot stunts against the green screen. On Monday, the extras were also called on the set to prep for the crowd sequences. Over the next few days, the team will shoot several elaborate scenes featuring a crowd. Nitesh wants everything perfect down to the last detail for his magnum opus.”

The epic saga has been envisioned as a trilogy, with the first instalment slated to release in 2025.

From late last year, filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari has been working towards one goal—of taking the Ranbir Kapoor-led Ramayan on floors in March. A fortnight into the month, the ambitious retelling of the epic has yet to roll. A bit of digging revealed that the shoot has apparently been pushed by a month. Reason? We hear the costume and art departments need some time to perfect the outfits and sets respectively.

After a look test was done on the primary cast in February, the makers felt they needed to revisit the costumes. A source says, “The costumes were authentic, but felt lacking in terms of scale and grandeur. Additional costume designers, who have worked on mythological offerings, were hired last week. The outfits should be locked by March 25.”

Given the epic’s significance in Indian culture, Ramayana—which also stars Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Raavan—is easily the most anticipated project. After Adipurush (2023) was met with criticism, Tiwari decided that he wouldn’t kick off the shoot until he is happy with every aspect.

“It has to be loyal to the spirit of the epic. The set too will have some minor changes, and the film will roll sometime between April 12 and 15.”

For the past few years, Sunil Maidan in Film City, Goregaon, has been home to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s cinematic creations, Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022) and the upcoming Heeramandi. It won’t be any different for his next, Love & War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. Sources say that after the Heeramandi set at Film City is dismantled this month, the production design team will begin the groundwork to build the love story’s universe at the same venue.

Grand sets and a larger-than-life appeal are Bhansali’s signature style. We hear the filmmaker, with his team, will head to the venue this month to share the vision he has in mind for the upcoming love triangle.

A source tells us, “Over the next few months, the art and production design team will bring alive Bhansali sir’s imagination by creating miniature replicas of the prime sets, and get his approvals. The set construction will begin in full force after the monsoon, laying the foundation for a November shoot.”

By then, the lead cast will have honoured their prior commitments to focus single-mindedly on Love & War. “Ranbir will kick off the shoot of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayan this month. He will wrap up the epic saga in time, to dive into Bhansali sir’s ambitious piece. The lead actors will have a straight six-month shoot, from November to 2025 summer, for the film to make its Christmas 2025 release.”

In January, mid-day had reported that filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari was gearing up to take the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer, Ramayan, on floors by March (Ram katha shuru, Jan 12). We now hear the team has begun scouting for actors to play young Ram and Lakshman, at the Prime Focus office in Mumbai.

The director is expected to zero in on the actors within the next two weeks. A source reveals, “Ranbir is playing Lord Ram while Naveen Polishetty has been approached for the role of Lakshman. Nitesh sir and the casting team want to ensure that the younger versions of Ram and Lakshman are in alignment with the actors playing the grown-up parts. At the moment, four to five young actors have been shortlisted.”

Yash and Sai Pallavi will play Ravana and Sita respectively in the ambitious trilogy.

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayan, led by Ranbir Kapoor, is easily the most anticipated project in Bollywood. Following over a year of scripting, casting and prep, it is almost time for the filmmaker to take his ambitious venture—that sees Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana—on floors. We hear the magnum opus is set to roll on March 2 in Film City, Goregaon.

A source reveals, “The cast and crew were recently informed that March 2 is the big day. Nitesh sir has charted out a long schedule in Film City. In the first part of the leg, Ranbir and Sai will shoot the dialogue-heavy scenes. The major crowd sequences, including some war portions, will be shot in April and May. The idea is to wrap these scenes before the monsoons hit the city.”

Tiwari and the Oscar-winning VFX company, DNEG, which is also co-producing the project, have meticulously crafted the on-screen world of the epic. Months of prep have included 3D scans and look tests with the lead cast. Next month, Kapoor is slated to visit the Los Angeles office of DNEG for a tech rehearsal.

The source adds, “In the first few weeks of the shoot, the makers will also be flying down expert technicians from Los Angeles to help them get familiar with the process.”

The first instalment of the trilogy is scheduled to release in the second half of 2025.

Actor Kangana Ranaut’s choice of words in a recent Instagram Story have caused quite a stir. Taking a dig at an actor who has been cast in an upcoming adaptation of Ramayana, Ranaut wrote, “Recently I am hearing news about another coming up Bolly Ramayana... Where a skinny white rat (so-called actor) who desperately needs some sun tan and conscience he is infamous for doing nasty underhand PR about almost everyone in the industry... known for womanising and drug addiction after desperately trying to prove himself Lord Shiva in a trilogy (which no one watched or want to make more parts of) has now grown fancy to be Lord Rama...(sic).”

While the Dhaakad (2022) actor didn’t take any names, many social media users felt that she may have been referring to actor Ranbir Kapoor, considering his name has been floating around for an upcoming adaptation of the epic.

Ranaut added, “Whereas a young southern superstar who is known to be self-made, a devoted family man a traditionalist also according to Valmiki ji description he looks more like Lord Rama in his complexion, demeanour and facial features... is offered to play Ravana...What kind of Kalyuga is this?? No pale-looking druggie soy boy should play Lord Rama .... Jai Shri Ram (sic).”