Anjali Arora is set to make her Bollywood debut as Goddess Sita in Abhishek Singh’s ‘Shri Ramayan Katha’. The actor says she has already begun preparing for the demanding role through readings, workshops and research.
Anjali Arora is stepping into one of the most challenging roles of her career with Shri Ramayan Katha. The social media personality and Lock Upp contestant has been cast as Goddess Sita in the upcoming mythological film, directed by Abhishek Singh.
The casting marks an important transition for Anjali, who first became widely known through the viral Kacha Badam trend before gaining further popularity with her appearance on Kangana Ranaut-hosted reality show Lock Upp. Now, she is preparing to make her big-screen debut with a character that carries enormous cultural and emotional significance.
Rather than taking the opportunity lightly, Anjali says she has already started working on the character and wants to approach Sita with sincerity.
Anjali Arora says the makers “saw something” in her
Speaking about her casting, Anjali revealed that she was selected after the filmmakers considered several actresses for the role.
“I believe they saw something in me that convinced them I could do justice to the character,” she said in an interview with ETimes TV.
Anjali added that she was finalised for the role the previous month and immediately began preparing for it.
“I was finalised last month, and since then, I have been watching videos, doing readings, and attending workshops. I will give my best to do justice to the character,” she said.
Her comments underline the seriousness with which she appears to be approaching her first major acting assignment.
Preparing for the role of Sita
Playing Sita presents a different challenge from the kind of work Anjali has done previously.
The character is deeply rooted in Indian mythology and has been portrayed on screen numerous times. Consequently, the performance requires an understanding not only of the narrative but also of the emotional qualities traditionally associated with Sita.
Anjali has previously described Sita as a character associated with strength, dignity, patience and faith. She has also spoken about being inspired by Sita’s inner courage and the way she faces difficult circumstances.
For the actor, preparation has therefore involved more than learning lines. Her reported workshops, readings and visual research are intended to help her understand the character before filming.
Comparison with Sai Pallavi
Anjali’s casting is also attracting attention because another major Ramayana adaptation is being developed at the same time.
Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Yash is reportedly associated with the project as Ravana.
With two different films bringing Sita to the screen, comparisons between Anjali and Sai Pallavi are almost inevitable.
Anjali has acknowledged that she is aware of the comparisons and admitted that they make her somewhat nervous. At the same time, she has said that she would be happy to be compared with an established Bollywood actress.
The two projects, however, are separate productions with different directors, casts and creative approaches. Their interpretations of the epic should ultimately be assessed on their own terms.
Anjali Arora responds to trolling
The announcement of Anjali’s casting has also generated criticism on social media.
Some users have questioned the decision to cast her as Sita, while others have focused on her previous social media image. The reaction reflects the intense scrutiny surrounding actors who take on culturally significant mythological characters.
Anjali, however, says she does not intend to allow online criticism to determine how she approaches her work.
“I can’t change people’s mindsets. As an actor, I commit to every character I am offered with full conviction,” she said.
She further maintained that her social media identity should not be confused with her acting ability.
“My social media image has nothing to do with my acting and won’t affect my performance; I aim to prove myself instead of seeking validation from others,” she added.
That distinction could become particularly important as she moves from influencer-led popularity to a conventional acting career.
From ‘Kacha Badam’ to the big screen
Anjali became a familiar name after her dance video on the viral Bengali song Kacha Badam gained widespread attention on social media.
Her digital popularity eventually opened doors to television and music projects. Her appearance on Lock Upp further increased her visibility, with her interactions with fellow contestant Munawar Faruqui becoming a frequent subject of entertainment coverage.
She subsequently appeared in music videos and continued building her social media following.
Shri Ramayan Katha, however, represents a considerably different professional challenge. Instead of appearing in short-form digital content or reality television, Anjali will be required to carry a central dramatic role in a feature film.
The response to her performance could therefore play an important role in determining how audiences perceive her as an actor.
About ‘Shri Ramayan Katha’
Directed by Abhishek Singh, Shri Ramayan Katha is based on the epic Ramayana and features Anjali Arora as Sita and Dev Sharma as Lord Ram.
The film’s promotional material has offered glimpses of several important episodes from the epic, including the relationship between Ram and Sita, their marriage, exile and Sita’s abduction.
The project is produced by Prakash Mahobiya, with Sanjay Bundela associated as co-producer.
The film is expected to be one of the projects attracting attention among the several screen adaptations of the Ramayana currently being discussed by audiences.
A defining opportunity for Anjali
For Anjali Arora, the role of Sita is more than simply a debut vehicle. It is an opportunity to demonstrate whether her popularity as a digital creator can translate into a sustained acting career.
The pressure is considerable. She is entering a role that has already been portrayed by several respected performers, while her own public image has been shaped largely by social media and reality television.
Yet Anjali appears determined to approach the challenge on her own terms.
Her focus, according to her recent comments, is preparation rather than online validation. Whether audiences ultimately accept her interpretation of Sita will depend on the finished film and her performance.
