Anjali Arora Faces Backlash Over Sita Role in ‘Shri Ramayan Katha’: What We Know About the Controversy

Anjali Arora’s casting as Sita in Abhishek Singh’s ‘Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha – Shri Ram Ki’ has triggered a debate online, with some social media users questioning the choice while the actor says she is approaching the role with respect, preparation and responsibility.

Anjali Arora is preparing for a major new chapter in her career with her big-screen debut in Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha – Shri Ram Ki, where she plays Mata Sita opposite Dev Sharma as Lord Ram. However, even before the film reaches theatres, her casting has become one of its biggest talking points.

The film’s promotional material has sparked a mixed response online. While some viewers are curious to see Anjali take on such an important mythological character, others have criticised the casting and compared her portrayal with Sai Pallavi, who plays Sita opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Nitesh Tiwari’s much-awaited Ramayana.

The debate has also been amplified by Anjali’s journey from social media fame to mainstream acting. Known widely as the “Kacha Badam” girl after her viral dance video, she later appeared on Kangana Ranaut’s reality show Lock Upp. Her transition from influencer and reality-show personality to the lead of a mythological film has naturally attracted considerable scrutiny.

Anjali Arora confirms she is playing Sita

Anjali has previously spoken about being chosen for the role and said she feels fortunate to have received the opportunity.

In interviews, she has revealed that the filmmakers considered several actresses before finalising her. Rather than treating the role casually, Anjali said she began preparing soon after being selected.

Her preparation has reportedly included watching reference videos, reading about the character and attending workshops.

Speaking about the responsibility attached to portraying Sita, Anjali said the character represents qualities such as strength, dignity, patience and faith. She also highlighted Sita’s inner courage and the way she faces difficult circumstances.

For Anjali, therefore, the role is not simply another acting assignment. It represents an opportunity to prove herself in a demanding character at the very beginning of her film career.

Why has Anjali’s casting sparked criticism?

The criticism surrounding the casting largely comes from the contrast between Anjali’s existing public image and the reverence associated with the character of Sita.

Anjali became an internet sensation through short-form social media content and subsequently gained a larger audience through Lock Upp. Her glamorous social media presence has also frequently been discussed online.

Some social media users have argued that her previous public image does not fit their expectations of someone portraying Sita. Others have criticised the filmmakers for selecting a relatively new actor for such a culturally significant role.

Comments calling for a boycott of the film and questioning the casting have appeared online. Some users have also compared the project with Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi.

However, social media reactions represent individual opinions rather than an objective assessment of Anjali’s performance. Audiences have yet to see the complete film, and her actual portrayal can only be evaluated after the movie is released.

Anjali says trolling will not define her performance

The actor has previously addressed the criticism surrounding her Sita casting.

Anjali acknowledged that she cannot control how people perceive her. She has also maintained that her social media persona should not be treated as a measure of her acting ability.

Her position has been that actors must accept both praise and criticism when they enter the entertainment industry. Rather than seeking validation from online reactions, she says she wants to focus on performing the character sincerely.

This response is particularly relevant because Shri Ramayan Katha represents a significant professional transition for her. Until now, Anjali’s popularity has largely been connected with social media, music videos and reality television. A mythological drama gives her an opportunity to establish herself in a completely different medium.

The Sai Pallavi comparison

The comparison with Sai Pallavi was almost inevitable because both actresses are set to portray Sita in separate big-screen interpretations of the Ramayana.

Sai Pallavi has been cast opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, one of the most anticipated Indian film projects. Anjali, meanwhile, takes on the same iconic character in Abhishek Singh’s Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha – Shri Ram Ki.

Anjali has indicated that she would not be uncomfortable with such comparisons. In fact, she has said that being compared with an established Bollywood actress would make her happy.

The two films, however, should ultimately be judged as separate productions. Different directors, performers, scripts, visual approaches and interpretations can produce very different versions of the same epic.

What is ‘Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha – Shri Ram Ki’ about?

Directed by Abhishek Singh, Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha – Shri Ram Ki is based on the epic story of Lord Ram and Mata Sita.

The promotional footage has offered glimpses of several well-known episodes from the Ramayana, including the marriage of Ram and Sita, their journey into exile, Sita’s abduction and preparations connected with the Ram Setu.

Dev Sharma plays Lord Ram, while Anjali Arora portrays Sita.

The supporting cast includes Sheel Verma, Rajniesh Duggal and Nirbhay Wadhwa, among others.

The film has been produced by Prakash Mahobiya and Sanjay Bundela under Mahobiya Films Production Pvt. Ltd. and presented by A J Film’s Entertainment World.

According to the information shared by the makers, the film is scheduled to release in cinemas on September 25, 2026.

Visual effects also become part of the online debate

The response to the promotional material has not been limited to Anjali’s casting.

Some viewers have also raised questions about the film’s visual effects, production design and overall presentation. A section of social media users compared the early visuals with Adipurush, another recent large-scale screen adaptation of the Ramayana that faced extensive online debate over its visual treatment.

It is important to distinguish between online reactions to a teaser and the finished movie. Promotional footage can contain incomplete visual effects, temporary elements or sequences presented without their final context.

The film’s eventual reception will depend on the complete narrative, performances, music, production design, visual effects and how respectfully the filmmakers handle the source material.

From ‘Kacha Badam’ fame to a mythological lead

Anjali Arora’s career has moved quickly.

She first became widely recognised after her dance video on the Bengali viral song Kacha Badam spread across social media. The popularity translated into a substantial digital following and eventually led to her participation in Lock Upp.

Her association with the reality show further increased her visibility, while appearances in music videos helped maintain her presence in the entertainment space.

Now, Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha – Shri Ram Ki presents a much bigger challenge.

Playing Sita requires more than screen presence. The character carries enormous cultural and emotional significance for Indian audiences, which explains why the casting has generated such intense discussion before the film’s release.

Anjali appears aware of that responsibility. Her public comments indicate that she has been undergoing workshops and studying the character rather than relying solely on her existing popularity.

Can Anjali change the perception around her?

The real test will come when the film reaches theatres.

Online criticism can create an early narrative around a project, but it does not necessarily determine its eventual reception. Performances have repeatedly changed public perceptions of actors, particularly when they take roles that audiences initially do not associate with them.

For Anjali, Sita could therefore become a defining role.

If her performance connects with viewers, the film could help her move beyond the image of a social media celebrity and establish her as a mainstream actor. If the performance fails to resonate, the pre-release criticism may become even louder.

For now, however, the debate remains largely based on casting and promotional material rather than the completed performance.

What happens next?

With Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha – Shri Ram Ki scheduled for September 25, 2026, Anjali Arora’s debut is likely to remain under considerable attention in the coming weeks.

The controversy surrounding her casting has already placed the film firmly in the entertainment news cycle, particularly because it arrives ahead of the larger Ramayana project featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi.

Anjali has chosen to respond to the scrutiny by focusing on preparation and the responsibility of portraying Sita. Whether that preparation translates into a performance accepted by audiences will ultimately be decided in theatres.