"Out of context" - Dipika Chikhlia on Arun Govil playing Dasharath in Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana –

Dipika Chikhlia on Arun Govil playing Dasharath In Ramayana

Veteran actress Dipika Chikhlia, best known as Sita in Ramanand Sagar's iconic 1987 TV serial Ramayan, has shared her thoughts on Arun Govil reprising a mythological role—this time as King Dasharath in Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming Ramayana film starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram. She described the casting as “a little out of context."

"I have seen him as Ram, and I've seen myself as Sita. For me to see him as Dasarath is really a little out of context. I mean, if you played Ram, then you are Ram," she said while speaking to Times of India.

In an interview, Chikhlia explained that once an actor is so deeply associated with an iconic role, it's hard to envision them differently. She clarified Arun Govil’s choice to embrace the new role but emphasized how entrenched audience perceptions are.

Chikhlia also revealed she wasn't approached for any part in the new adaptation and was fine with that. "I was never approached. I guess they've not even bothered to speak to me about it. Once I played Sita, I don’t think I can play any other character in Ramayan," she stated. However, she remains open to acting in other epics, like Mahabharat or Shiv Puran, but draws the line at taking another role in Ramayan, as confirmed by her.

Tiwari's two-part Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny  Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, with Arun Govil stepping in as king Dasharath. Backed by a massive ₹1,600-crore budget, the two-part saga will hit cinemas on Diwali 2026 and 2027, respectively.

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