KGF actress Srinidhi Shetty has revealed that she auditioned for the role of Sita in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. She also explained why her popular on-screen pairing with Yash made her question how audiences might respond to their casting in the mythological film.
Actress Srinidhi Shetty, widely recognised for playing Reena Desai opposite Yash in the KGF franchise, has opened up about an opportunity that could have taken her career in a very different direction. The actress revealed that she had met the team behind Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious Ramayana and completed a screen test for the character of Sita.
Although the role ultimately went to Sai Pallavi, Srinidhi expressed no bitterness over the casting decision. Instead, she praised her fellow actress and shared an interesting concern she had while considering the project: whether audiences would accept her playing Sita opposite Yash as Ravana so soon after watching them as a romantic couple in KGF: Chapter 2.
Her remarks, made during an interview with Siddharth Kannan, have attracted renewed attention after a clip from the conversation circulated on X.
Srinidhi Shetty Confirms She Screen-Tested for Sita
During the interview, Siddharth Kannan asked Srinidhi about reports suggesting that she, Sai Pallavi and Alia Bhatt had been considered for the role of Sita in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana.
Rather than dismissing the speculation, the actress confirmed that she had participated in the casting process.
“Yeah, I did meet them, and I did give a screen test,” Srinidhi said.
She explained that she had prepared three scenes for the audition and remembered the experience positively. According to the actress, the response from the team was encouraging.
The revelation offers a glimpse into the casting process behind one of Indian cinema’s most ambitious mythological productions. It also confirms Srinidhi’s own involvement in the audition process, although her remarks do not establish how close she came to securing the part or whether a formal offer was made.
Why Yash’s Involvement Made Srinidhi Think Twice
One of the most revealing parts of Srinidhi’s interview concerned her KGF co-star Yash.
The two actors became a widely recognised screen pairing through the blockbuster franchise, particularly following the release of KGF: Chapter 2 in April 2022.
Srinidhi recalled hearing about Yash’s possible involvement in Ramayana around the time she received the audition opportunity.
With Yash associated with the role of Ravana and Srinidhi being considered for Sita, the actress wondered whether audiences would find it difficult to separate the characters from their earlier cinematic relationship.
In KGF, Rocky and Reena share a romantic storyline. In Ramayana, Sita and Ravana occupy fundamentally different positions within the narrative, with Ravana abducting Sita and Rama undertaking the struggle to rescue her.
For an actress whose on-screen partnership with Yash had recently attracted considerable attention, that difference was significant.
Srinidhi said she questioned whether viewers who had celebrated Rocky and Reena as a couple would readily accept them in such contrasting roles.
Importantly, she described this as her own concern rather than a reason officially communicated by the filmmakers for selecting another actress.
‘Sai Pallavi Is a Great Choice,’ Says Srinidhi Shetty
Despite missing out on the opportunity to portray Sita, Srinidhi spoke warmly about Sai Pallavi’s casting.
“I think Sai Pallavi is a great choice, and I would love to watch her play Sita in the film,” she said.
Her response reflected an appreciative attitude toward the casting decision and a broader perspective on professional opportunities.
Srinidhi also explained that she believes projects that do not materialise can create space for other experiences.
“When something works out, it’s great. When something doesn’t work out, it’s wonderful because it opens the door to other opportunities,” she said.
Her comments present a different perspective on the competitive nature of film casting, where several performers may audition for a prominent character but only one ultimately receives the role.
Why the Role of Sita Carries Special Significance
Sita occupies a central place in the Ramayana, one of India’s most influential epics.
The character is associated with courage, dignity, resilience and devotion, while her experiences also raise enduring questions about duty, justice and personal agency.
Portraying Sita in a major cinematic adaptation is therefore more than a conventional leading role. It requires an actor to interpret a character with deep cultural and religious significance for audiences across generations.
For Sai Pallavi, whose performances have often been recognised for their emotional intensity and naturalistic style, the part represents a prominent opportunity within a large-scale Hindi film production.
Srinidhi’s remarks also underline the challenge facing filmmakers adapting familiar stories: audiences bring longstanding expectations about the characters, as well as associations formed through an actor’s previous work.
From KGF to Ramayana: Yash and Srinidhi’s Different Paths
Srinidhi Shetty gained widespread recognition through her portrayal of Reena Desai in Prashanth Neel’s KGF films.
Her chemistry with Yash became part of the franchise’s appeal, helping establish the pair as familiar faces to audiences across India.
Yash’s involvement in Ramayana as Ravana represents a markedly different screen identity from Rocky, the ambitious and formidable protagonist of KGF.
Srinidhi’s account illustrates how an established screen pairing can shape an actor’s expectations about future roles.
However, her interview should not be interpreted as confirmation that their previous collaboration influenced the filmmakers’ final casting decision. She spoke about her personal thoughts and the audition experience, not an official explanation from the production.
What We Know About Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is a large-scale cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic.
The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, bringing together performers with substantial audiences across Hindi and South Indian cinema.
The project has generated attention for its casting and the challenge of presenting a story that has been interpreted through literature, theatre, television and cinema for generations.
Srinidhi’s newly recirculated interview adds another detail to the discussion surrounding the production, offering audiences an insight into how one of its central characters was cast.
A Missed Role Without Regret
Srinidhi Shetty’s comments stand out because she did not frame the audition as a personal setback or criticise the actress eventually selected.
Instead, she acknowledged the positive response to her screen test, explained her concerns about audience perception and openly supported Sai Pallavi.
For fans of KGF, her remarks also offer an intriguing glimpse of a casting combination that was considered during the development process.
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