Mukesh Khanna Criticises Ramayana Makers Over Sai Pallavi’s Action Scene as Sita, Says ‘Sharam Aani Chahiye Aapko’

Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna has strongly objected to the portrayal of Mata Sita in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film Ramayana, particularly questioning a scene in which she is shown engaging in combat.

The actor, best known for playing Shaktimaan, argued that Valmiki’s Ramayana does not describe Sita as a warrior and accused the filmmakers of taking creative liberties with the revered epic.

In a recent vlog, Khanna criticised the makers for allegedly prioritising the film’s reported Rs 4,000 crore budget and its commercial returns over the faithful presentation of the original story. He questioned whether the filmmakers were focusing more on recovering their investment than accurately narrating the Ramayana.

Khanna also made it clear that he had not watched the film. His remarks, he said, were based on the promotional material released so far, along with audience reactions and reviews. He raised concerns about altering the content of religious epics by adding or removing elements according to the filmmakers’ imagination.

Mukesh Khanna questions Sita’s action sequence

Taking particular exception to Sita’s fight scene, Khanna said that the character should not be presented as a warrior in the manner of Rani Lakshmibai or modern action-oriented female protagonists. Referring to his reading of Valmiki’s Ramayana, he maintained that the epic does not describe Sita participating in battles.

He argued that Sita’s character was defined by dignity, devotion and service, rather than physical combat. Khanna also questioned why Ravana was able to abduct her if she possessed the fighting abilities depicted in the film.

Actor reacts to Namit Malhotra’s explanation

Khanna further expressed shock over producer Namit Malhotra’s reported clarification that the action sequence was not taken from Valmiki’s Ramayana but was inspired by the Adbhuta Ramayana.

The actor questioned the decision to introduce interpretations from different versions of the epic while presenting the project as Ramayana. He also drew a comparison with religious texts such as the Quran and the Bible, arguing that filmmakers would face similar objections if they altered other faiths’ sacred scriptures.

In his strongly worded remarks, Khanna urged the filmmakers to stop imposing their own narratives on Valmiki’s Ramayana and respect the original text.

About Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Mata Sita, Yash as Ravana and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The ambitious mythological project has generated considerable attention, with discussions surrounding its casting, visual presentation and interpretation of the epic.