Telugu actor Sai Pallavi is set to portray Sita alongside Ranbir Kapoor’s Lord Ram and Yash’s Ravana in director Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. However, Sai was not the only contender for the role. In a recent interview, actor Srinidhi Shetty, popularly known for KGF, confirmed that she had also auditioned for the role.

“Yes, I did give a screen test, and they loved it,” she revealed in an interview with Siddharth Kannan. However, she claimed that she decided to not go ahead because the audiences had already seen her romance Yash’s character Rocky in KGF, and would have probably not preferred to watch them in an antagonistic dynamic.

“People might not have been able to digest us against each other. So somewhere, I thought, it might or might not set (sic),” she explained.

Speaking about the makers casting Sai as Sita, she said, “I feel she is a great choice. I would love to see her as Sita. And I always say, when something works, it’s great; when it doesn’t, it’s still wonderful because new doors will open for you.”

Ramayana will release in two parts — one in 2026 and the other in 2027.

It has been a journey that most newcomers would have wished to be a part of, and former Miss Supranational Srinidhi Shetty is thrilled that it is her journey. Being the leading lady of KGF - Chapter 2, a franchise that has piqued the curiosity of film buffs nationally, she can’t wait to watch the film in cinema halls like the rest of the audience. Excerpts from an interview...

Yes, you will get to see a lot more of Reena in Chapter 2 than in the previous one. She didn’t have much scope in that story, but you get to see different shades of her character here and how she is important to the plot and the hero’s life. You get to see that arc and I hope people connect with her character and emotions.

This feels similar to being in the same school or institution throughout. I have been with the team for six years. So, whether it is professional or personal, we have that bond. I feel sad when I think that I will not get to hear Prashanth say action, or will not be able to walk into the set. I will miss the cricket games, chit-chatting, banter with my director of photography, Bhuvan Gowda. I was a kid when I came on board. I remember seeing Prashanth and Bhuvan back then, probably a little less confident. Six years down the line, everyone’s so much more confident and I have grown. We have all seen each other’s journey, which is what will ensure this bond. I know that all these people are always a call away.

While promoting Chapter 1, we just had a press conference in Mumbai. But now, the reception is overwhelming. Yash is already a star and has a huge fan base, but I am a beginner and I always take a step back and look at the fans going crazy, like an audience member. It is overwhelming to see how eagerly people were waiting for this movie. I take a lot of pride that I am a part of this film which is creating history.

Yes, the wait for the release and seeing it on screen has been long. My next film, Cobra, is also lined up for release. Following that, I need to wait and see. Showbiz does come with uncertainty, so one might have done the best film, but one may not get anything after that. I just hope good projects come my way.

On August 26, the KGF sequel resumed shoot after a fivemonth break brought on by the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown. Yash, who plays Rocky, however, wasn’t a part of this brief schedule, and only joined the unit on Wednesday, along with his leading lady, Srinidhi Shetty.

“After canning some important scenes with them in Bengaluru, the team will fly down to Hyderabad for another 20-day shoot on the set of the Kolar Gold Fields. They will be shooting some lavishly-mounted action scenes, including the climax,” revealed a source close to the development, adding that Yash has been training hard for it since the last few months. “He has a certain look in the film for which he has to be fighting fit. He has also grown a heavy beard to maintain continuity.”

The film also features Sanjay Dutt as the antagonist, Adheera, and the story of KGF: Chapter 2 chronicles a battle royale between Rocky and Adheera. “Sanjay has shot for most of his scenes with just a couple of days’ work pending. He will mostly join the team in the first week of November,” shared the source.

Director Prashanth Neel is hoping to wrap up the shoot by early November and then move into post-production. “Even during the lockdown, the team was remotely working on post-production through video calls,” said the source. KGF: Chapter 1 released during the Christmas 2018 weekend, alongside Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero, and was a surprise hit in the Hindi belts despite the clash. It also won two National Awards for Best Action and Best Special Effects.

Chapter 1 revolves around Raja Krishnappa Bairya aka Rocky who arrives in Bombay (now Mumbai) in the 1960s, on a quest for power and wealth as desired by his dying mother. The sequel takes off from where part one ended and was targeting an October 23, 2020 release, before the pandemic struck. Now, it will open next year.