Dipika Chikhlia, best known for her portrayal of Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s iconic Doordarshan show Ramayan, continues to be recognized and revered by fans for the role even decades later. While her co-star Arun Govil, who played Ram, is set to appear in Ranbir Kapoor’s upcoming Ramayana in a different role, Dipika remains firm in her decision to not move beyond her most famous character.
During an interview, Dipika revealed that she had once been offered the role of Kaushalya in a television serial. However, her brother strongly advised against it, telling her, “You are known as Sita, and you should die as Sita.” Taking his words to heart, the veteran actress decided not to portray any other character from the epic.
“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 explained.
While she acknowledges that playing a deity on screen does not make one divine in real life, she believes that there is a certain responsibility that comes with portraying such roles. She shared an instance where major production houses approached her for a film that required her to hold a cigarette in both hands, an offer she firmly refused. “I have gotten 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 said.
Well, she is certainly correct, isn’t it?
