Actor Dhanush has come out in support of Sai Pallavi amid the criticism surrounding her casting as Sita in Nitesh Tiwari's ‘Ramayana’. Speaking at the pre-release event of their upcoming film ‘OM’, the actor praised her devotion, personality and acting abilities, saying he could not understand the criticism directed at her portrayal of the revered character.

To advertise here,

A video from the event has been circulating on social media, drawing attention to Dhanush's remarks about his co-star. He revealed that he had observed Sai Pallavi's devotion first-hand while working with her and believes she is well suited to portray Sita.

"There is so much noise and chatter surrounding her portrayal of Sita. I really don't understand it. Even during breaks between shots, she would constantly be praying. Even if you search across all of India, you won't find another Sita like her. She is someone with such profound devotion to God and such a pure heart. She looks so beautiful, and she is a great performer," he said.

Dhanush recalls Sai Pallavi's transformation since ‘Maari 2’

Beyond her portrayal of Sita, Dhanush also spoke about Sai Pallavi's growth as an actor, recalling their first collaboration in the 2018 film ‘Maari 2’.

The actor remembered her as a reserved person who would carefully consider her words before speaking. However, their reunion on the sets of ‘OM’ years later gave him a completely different impression of her.

ALSO READ: Sai Pallavi reveals her checklist for a husband on KBC 18; Opens up about playing Sita in ‘Ramayana’  

"When I first met Sai Pallavi during Maari 2, she was so innocent and spoke very little. She would think carefully before saying anything and was hesitant to speak. That was the kind of person she was. Seeing her nine years later on the sets of this film, I found her completely transformed. She had become a totally different person. She stood there as someone who had thoroughly mastered cinema. In her speech, her walk and her expressions, everything reflected immense confidence and poise. It was astonishing," he said.

Dhanush also acknowledged the challenges involved in taking up her character in ‘OM’, praising the actor for accepting the role with confidence and delivering what he described as a wonderful performance.

"Playing this role isn't easy at all. Sai Pallavi took it up boldly and courageously and delivered a wonderful performance," he added.

Dhanush and Sai Pallavi reunite in ‘OM’

‘OM’ brings Dhanush and Sai Pallavi together once again after ‘Maari 2’. Actor Mammootty also plays a key role in the upcoming film.

Sai Pallavi essays Nithya Reddy, a CBI officer who takes up an investigation into the illegal red sandalwood trade. The project marks another collaboration between the actors, who have previously shared screen space in the 2018 Tamil film.

ALSO READ: ‘Ramayana’: Who is the voice behind Sai Pallavi's Sita? Meet Ami Trivedi

Meanwhile, Sai Pallavi is currently receiving attention for her portrayal of Sita in Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious two-part adaptation of the Indian epic ‘Ramayana’.

The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. The first instalment hit theatres on November 5.