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Tamil star Dhanush has defended Sai Pallavi’s portrayal of Sita in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, praising the actor’s devotion, performance and purity of heart. The actor, who stars alongside Pallavi in the upcoming film Om, said he was particularly struck by Pallavi’s conduct on the sets, where she would frequently pray between shots in preparation for Ramayana.
“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 during a pre-release event for their film.
Dhanush recalled meeting Pallavi for the first time during the making of Maari 2 (2018), He described her as a quiet and reserved presence, saying he was astonished by how much she had changed when they reunited on the sets of Om.
“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 praised Pallavi’s performance in Om Chapter 1: Udhiram – The Blood Wood, their upcoming jungle-set crime drama. “Playing this role isn’t easy at all. Sai Pallavi took it up boldly and courageously and delivered a wonderful performance,” he said.
The makers recently unveiled the look of Pallavi’s character, Nithya Reddy, in the film. The film revolves around the smuggling of red sanders, a restricted variety of sandalwood found in parts of Andhra Pradesh.
Pallavi plays an IPS officer from the Andhra Pradesh Police who is inducted into the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as an Additional Superintendent in recognition of her exemplary service. Reddy is subsequently assigned to work with Interpol on an operation named OM.
Om Chapter 1: Udhiram – The Blood Wood stars Dhanush, Mammootty and Sai Pallavi in leading roles. Originally scheduled to release on October 16, 2026, the film was postponed to November following a potential box-office clash with Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 and Suriya’s Scene.
It is now slated to release in theatres worldwide on November 20, 2026.