Social media personality and actor Anjali Arora, best known for gaining widespread attention through the viral “Kacha Badam” video, is set to portray Goddess Sita in the upcoming film Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha. The film’s newly released trailer, however, has drawn criticism online over its casting and visual effects.
The film, which is scheduled to hit theatres on September 25, stars Dev Sharma as Lord Ram opposite Arora. Its 90-second trailer was released on Tuesday, August 18, and offers audiences a glimpse into several major episodes from the Ramayana.
The trailer begins with the wedding of Ram and Sita before depicting their exile and focusing on their relationship. It later shows Sita’s abduction and concludes with Ram preparing for battle as work on the Ram Setu begins.
Following the trailer’s release, some social media users questioned the decision to cast Arora as Sita, while others criticized the quality of the film’s visual effects. The trailer has nevertheless attracted more than 100,000 views.
Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha is directed by Abhishek Singh and produced by Prakash Mahobiya, Sanjay Bundela and Monika Sen.
The film arrives ahead of another major cinematic adaptation of the Hindu epic, Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi. The competing projects have placed renewed attention on how filmmakers portray the story and its iconic characters for contemporary audiences.
