Was Sai Pallavi Almost Cast as Madhubala? Report Says Sanjay Leela Bhansali Considered Her for the Biopic

Buzz surrounding the biopic of legendary actress Madhubala has been gaining momentum in recent weeks. Several names have been circulating online regarding who might portray the iconic star on screen.

Earlier reports suggested actresses like Kiara Advani and Aneet Padda could take on the role. However, industry insiders later dismissed those claims as speculation.

Now, a new report indicates that South Indian star Sai Pallavi was also being considered to headline the much-anticipated biopic.

Sai Pallavi Was Among the Top Choices

According to a report by Filmfare, Sai Pallavi was one of the preferred options for filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali while planning the film.

An insider reportedly told the publication that Bhansali was keen on casting a relatively fresh face to portray Madhubala on the big screen. Since Sai Pallavi had not yet made her full-fledged Bollywood debut at the time, she was considered a suitable choice for the role.

However, the discussions did not eventually materialize into a final casting decision.

Reports suggest that scheduling conflicts may have played a part in the decision, although the exact reason behind the change in plans has not been officially confirmed.

Sai Pallavi’s Upcoming Projects

While the Madhubala biopic did not work out, Sai Pallavi has several major projects lined up.

The actress will soon appear as Sita in Ramayana Part 1, directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The epic film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and includes a large ensemble cast such as Yash, Sunny Deol, Raghav Juyal, Ravie Dubey, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Arun Govil, and Kunal Kapoor.

There are also reports that Vijay Sethupathi could play the role of Vibhishana in the film, though an official announcement is still awaited.

Before that, Sai Pallavi will make her Hindi film debut with Ek Din. Directed by Sunil Pandey, the romantic drama stars Junaid Khan opposite her.

The film is reportedly inspired by the 2016 Thai movie One Day and is being backed by Aamir Khan. It is scheduled to release in theatres on May 1, 2026.