Actress Dipika Chikhlia is known for her portrayal of Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s iconic TV series ‘Ramayan‘. She remains a beloved figure among audiences even after more than three decades. In a recent conversation, the actress shared that people still address her as ‘Sita’ and seek her blessings whenever she goes out.
Her ‘Ramayan‘ co-star Arun Govil is set to appear in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming Bollywood adaptation of the epic, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi. While reacting to the same, Dipika expressed her disinterest in taking part in Ranbir’s ‘Ramayana’.
According to Dipika, her identity is tied to her portrayal of Sita, and she just wants to “die as Sita.” In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, the actress recalled an offer she received years ago to play Kaushalya in another Ramayan-based TV show. She was initially confused and sought help from her brother to make a decision.
“You are known as Sita, and you should die as Sita,” her brother told her, and she also believed that no other version of Ramayan would ever surpass the legacy of Sagar’s adaptation from the 1980s.
“I clearly understood that people have known me as Sita ji, and nothing will become as popular as Sagar’s Ramayan. Then why should I fiddle with my image? I am Sita; I have accepted it. For 35 years, I have taken the responsibility of being Sita—then why should I try to be something else?” she stated.
While Dipika is well aware that actors should not internalise the divine characters they play, she acknowledges that the audience continues to associate her with Sita. Due to this perception, she has been selective about her roles, steering clear of characters that could clash with her established image.
She recently turned down two film offers because they required her to smoke on screen. “I have received messages from big production houses for a film, and they wanted me with a cigarette in my hand—both of them. And I said no. Sometimes I wonder, how can you even ask me something like that?” she added.
