Lara Dutta has hit back at criticism of Sai Pallavi’s sword-wielding Sita in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, arguing that a princess of that era would likely have been trained to fight.
“You have to stop being so small-minded, you know, and also embrace the cinematic experience,” the actor, who plays Kaikeyi in the film, told NDTV.
Why Lara thinks a warrior Sita makes sense
Dutta noted that the epic exists in many versions, and that royal children of the time, daughters included, were typically schooled in both the arts and weaponry.
“So I think it’s not that far off or it’s not that far-fetched to think that Sita was also possibly very much trained in the art of warfare,” she said. “When you’re put into a situation like that also as a woman, you’re not going to be a helpless woman.”
She also pointed to Sita’s 14 years in the forest as evidence of the character’s resilience. “At some point, she will pick up something to defend herself,” Dutta said.
What sparked the debate
In the film, Sita fights demons alongside Ranbir Kapoor’s Rama and is seen teaching combat skills to children and young villagers. Some viewers have objected, saying the film takes too much creative liberty with a revered religious figure.
