Sai Pallavi’s Journey: From stage fright to playing Sita in ‘Ramayana’; Why will inspire you
No Malayali can ever forget the famous teacher ‘Malar’ miss in Nivin Pauly’s film ‘Premam’. Before becoming one of the most popular actors in Hindi cinema, Sai Pallavi experienced a childhood moment that almost ended her love for performing. What started with an emotional dance competition has evolved into an inspiring journey that has now led her to portray the role of Goddess Sita in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’.
The dance performance that changed everything
Sai Pallavi’s passion for dancing developed at an early age. She grew up in Coimbatore with her family roots in Kotagiri in the Nilgiris and was encouraged by her mother Radha Kannan who is a trained dancer. Inspired by artists like Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai, Sai spent countless hours watching dance performances and learning through observation.However, her first stage performance became an unforgettable experience for a different reason.Years ago, recalling Najar’s incident with Smita, Sai Pallavi said, “I think I was on the A-level. I cut the boy’s hair. It was a song from Shah Rukh Khan, Dil To Pagal Hai by Karisma Kapoor! Yes. That was my first dance.”She then described how her costume mishap made her embarrassed in front of the public.“It wasn’t a stage per se. It was more like how did we get this platform here. It was an inter-school competition,” she shared.
I don’t know why my mother took me there but I went with her. They tied a scarf with a clip over my hair to make it look like long hair. I fell down midway through the performance and felt uncomfortable. I remember I came down and started crying. My mother thought I was talented and interested in dancing.
“Despite the accident, her mother continued to encourage her and help her regain her self-confidence and continue dancing.
Balancing medicine and a film career
Born on May 9, 1992, Sai Pallavi followed an unconventional path before entering the world of cinema. Along with her passion for performing, she earned her MBBS from Tbilisi State Medical University in Georgia. During those years, she also appeared in dance reality shows and smaller acting assignments before making her big break.Her career changed dramatically with Alphonse Puthren’s film ‘Premam’ in 2015. While playing the role of Malar, she received widespread appreciation for her realistic and simple performance.
It can certainly be said that Malar’s miss was indeed a strong opening for Sai.Instead of opting for traditional commercial roles, Sai Pallavi has built her filmography around strong characters. Films like ‘Kali’, ‘Fidaa’, Dulquer Salmaan’s ‘Love Story’, Nani’s ‘Shyam Singha Roy’, ‘Gargi’ and ‘Amaran’ have showcased her versatility and acting range.Her popularity also grew through dancing. Songs like “Rowdy Baby” became a national sensation and introduced her to audiences across India.
Although Dhanush’s ‘Maari 2’ was a disappointment, ‘Rowdy Baby’ was a huge hit.
Entering the world of “Ramayana”
Sai Pallavi is now gearing up for one of the biggest projects of her career with Ramayana. She plays the role of Sita, while Ranbir Kapoor essays the role of Lord Rama.During the Ramayana: Pratham Sankalp event in New Delhi, Sai Pallavi spoke publicly about the film for the first time. She expressed her gratitude for being chosen for this role and revealed that she dedicated nearly three years to this ambitious project. The cast also includes Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman.
