Cinema VinesThe trailer of Nitesh Tiwari’s epic “Ramayana” has sparked a lively debate among viewers, not just for its sweeping visuals and special effects but also for the costumes worn by the lead characters. While many praised the film’s scale and production values, some fans took issue with the styling of Sai Pallavi as Sita and Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, prompting a wave of online criticism.
In response to the backlash, Surabhi Das—who plays Sita’s cousin Shrutakirti—took to the Zoom platform to defend the film’s costume choices. She acknowledged that people will always have opinions about how a character is dressed, saying, “If we didn’t make Sita wear a blouse, people would still have an opinion about why she wasn’t wearing one. Even when we make her wear a blouse, there’s still a problem.” Das added that the sheer scale of the project would ultimately eclipse such concerns, and that it is impossible to please everyone. She urged audiences to wait for the theatrical release to fully appreciate the film’s offerings.
Before Das, the costume designers—Rimple and Harpreet Narulah—also addressed the criticism. They explained that the Ramayana is an ancient epic deeply ingrained in collective memory, so divergent views on casting, costumes and visual effects are inevitable. Rimple clarified that Sai Pallavi’s portrayal of Sita was a personal interpretation of the goddess she grew up worshipping, noting that no authentic garments from the Treta Yuga exist to serve as direct references. Instead, the designers drew inspiration from generations of artistic depictions of the characters.
“Ramayana” is helmed by Nitesh Tiwari and features a star‑studded cast that includes Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, alongside Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi and Arun Govil. The film is backed by Namit Malhotra and Yash, and is produced on an estimated budget of ₹4,000 crore. It will be released in two parts, with the first installment scheduled for Diwali 2026.
