Social media personality Anjali Arora, who rose to prominence through the reality series Lock Upp and her viral Kacha Badam dance video, has sparked widespread public debate following the release of the teaser for her upcoming film, ‘Shri Ramayan Katha – Shri Ram Ki’. In the mythological feature, directed by Abhishek Singh, Arora has been cast in the role of Sita, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism across online platforms.
Following Arora's sharing of the teaser on Instagram, reaction across social media was swift, with numerous commentators questioning the suitability of her casting for a figure held in deep religious esteem. On Reddit, users expressed dismay over the choice, with one stating that the portrayal of such a revered figure required dignity and sensitivity rather than appearing to be publicity-driven, describing the decision as a cruel joke on people’s beliefs. Others called for the project to be banned or compared it unfavourably to recent controversial adaptations of the epic, though a section of her fanbase voiced support and praised her appearance in the teaser.
The controversy draws parallels to the intense public backlash faced by Om Raut’s ‘Adipurush’, another cinematic adaptation of the Ramayana that was widely condemned for its contemporary dialogue and creative departures from the source material. Produced by Prakash Mahobiya and Sanjay Bundela under the Mahobiya Film Production banner, ‘Shri Ramayan Katha – Shri Ram Ki’ co-stars Dev Sharma alongside Sheel Verma, Rajniesh Duggal, and Nirbhay Wadhwa, and is scheduled for a theatrical release on 25 September.
The release comes as high-profile adaptations of the epic continue to draw significant attention, including Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming two-part ‘Ramayana’ starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi. Arora, a former model and digital creator who built a substantial online following before placing as second runner-up in Lock Upp, has since appeared in numerous music videos, with this role representing her most high-profile cinematic project to date.
Also read: ‘Lock Upp’ winner Shreya Kalra hits back at ‘undeserving’ claims
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