It is always interesting to see the journeys of some top celebrities. While some hail from the film family, some start their career from scratch in the movie industry. There’s one such actress, who is now a big name in the South Indian film industry. She is all set to make her Bollywood debut in a big-budget movie. The actress is none other than Sai Pallavi. She has been ruling audience’s hearts with her wonderful performances in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam movies. Also Read – Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri in Vishal Bharadwaj’s next, Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi in Ramayana and more: Top new on-screen pairings to watch out for
Sai Pallavi’s journey is quite inspiring. She started her career as an extra in films. However, in 2015, she made her debut in the Malayalam movie Premam, which was a huge hit at the box office. In no time, Sai became the audience’s favourite, and many started looking forward to her next project. But did you know she paused her education as a doctor to be a part of the movie? After the film became a hit, Pallavi flew back to Tbilisi, Georgia, and completed her doctorate. Upon returning to India, she resumed her career as an actress. Also Read – Ramayana: Why is Ranbir Kapoor cast as Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s movie? Casting director shares the reason
Sai Pallavi then acted in several movies like Kali, Maari 2, Athiran, Love Story, Shyam Singha Roy, Gargi, and several others. In 2023, the actress won several accolades and awards for her performance in Gargi. While Sai is an incredible actress, she is very committed towards her principles. The dusky beauty rejected a 2-crore deal with a fairness brand. About the same, the Premam actress once said, “When I was in school and college, I grew up with friends who would look at a girl with a darker boyfriend and say, Hey, you can do better. You are way out of his league. And when you see a guy with a girl who is a little darker, you end up saying, I think there is something else; what does this guy see in this girl.”
Sai Pallavi’s upcoming projects
We all know Sai Pallavi will portray Goddess Sita in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, alongside Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama. But some of her other projects include Amaran, Thandel, and an untitled project with Aamir Khan’s son, Junaid Khan.
A popular actress in South cinema who is known for acting and dancing skills, became one of the most sensational talents in cinema. The actress is also known to have a strong personality even landing her in a controversy over her words.
Yes, we are talking about one of the most graceful actresses ever, Sai Pallavi. Let’s take a quick look into the celebrity’s filmography and personal life.
Sai Pallavi: From medical student to leading actress
Sai Pallavi started off her career in cinema at an early age, acting in uncredited role as junior artist in Tamil films like Kasthuri Maan and Jayam Ravi’s Dhaam Dhoom. Along with acting in a few advertisements, the actress had also made her appearance as a child in dance reality shows, despite not having formal training.
Moving ahead with her career in medicine, the actress ventured to Tbilisi, Georgia. In 2014, while pursuing her studies, director Alphonse Puthren contacted her for a film who was apparently calling her a second time in a span of six years.
However, Pallavi initially thought the director was a stalker and was considering lodging a complaint until all the misunderstandings were cleared by the director. After their introduction and the movie being offered, Sai Pallavi ventured into her debut role as Malar in Nivin Pauly starrer Premam, becoming a sensational hit.
Check out Nivin Pauly starrer Premam celebrating its 5th anniversary:
Interestingly, the actress had performed in the movie while pursuing her studies and also choreographed one of the dance scenes in the movie. Later on, the actress went on to feature in the lead role for her second film in Malayalam after taking a break from her studies. This led her to star opposite Dulquer Salmaan in the 2016 movie Kali.
By the year 2017, the actress ventured into Telugu cinemas, expanding her cinematic career to other languages. Her first film in Tollywood was the romantic comedy called Fidaa, starring Varun Tej Konidela and directed by Sekhar Kammula.
The character Bhanumati played by Pallavi was a strong-minded and feisty village girl which showcased a whole new layer in her performances. Soon after, she was also seen playing the lead role in the film MCA: Middle Class Abbayi with Nani which was also a hit.
Moving ahead, the actress went on to make her debut in Tamil films with movies like Diya and later on Dhanush starrer Maari 2. The film despite being met with mixed reviews featured the song Rowdy Baby composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja which shattered viewing records on YouTube, commending both the actors’ energetic dance performances.
Check out the song Rowdy Baby from Maari 2:
The actress later on featured in the lead role for the film Padi Padi Leche Manasu which eventually turned out to be a commercial failure. According to reports, owing to the film’s bad performance, the actress had refused to accept her full remuneration for the movie.
Moving ahead in her career, the actress acted in her third Malayalam film called Athiran with Fahadh Faasil and made her appearance opposite Suriya for the film, NGK. Over the last few years, the actress has collaborated with director Sekhar Kammula for the film Love Story featuring Naga Chaitanya in the lead role. Additionally reuniting with Nani for her next movie, Shyam Singha Roy.
Later on, she also acted in films like Virata Parvam opposite Rana Daggubati and even took up the lead role for Richie director Gautham Ramachandran’s film Gargi, after Jyothika refused.
Further ahead, the actress is all set to play the lead roles in films like Amaran starring Sivakarthikeyan and co-produced by Kamal Haasan. Besides the upcoming Tamil film, she will also be playing the lead in Naga Chaitanya’s Thandel and also star in Bollywood movies like Ranbir Kapoor-Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana and Junaid Khan’s untitled film.
Sai Pallavi’s personal life
Sai Pallavi Senthamarai Kannan was born in a Badaga family to Senthamarai Kannan and Radha, from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The actress also has a younger sister called Pooja Kannan who has also been part of films.
Despite having her hometown in Kotagiri, the actress was raised in Coimbatore, after which she went to Tbilisi to pursue her medicinal studies. Even though she has completed her studies and certification, the actress has not yet registered as a medical practitioner in India.
Sai Pallavi is also adept at speaking languages like Badaga, Tamil, English, Hindi, and Gregorian. Owing to her career, the actress later on also learned Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada languages.
Moreover, the actress is often known to have strong opinions and remarks about her standings, which even led her to reject a Rs 2 crore deal for endorsing a fairness cream. Furthermore, the actress had also once hit the headlines for her controversial comments about the film, The Kashmir Files.
The actress’ questions after comparing the film’s instance to cow vigilantism led to widespread criticism online which led to her issuing a clarification on her statements being misinterpreted. She also added that she would neither trivialize a tragedy nor be comfortable with mob lynchings.
Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana is one of the most talked-about projects in Bollywood currently. Ever since the news of him making a film on India’s biggest Hindu epic came out, fans have only been eagerly waiting to see him cast his magic spell on the silver screen. Especially after the rumors of Ranbir Kapoor playing Lord Ram alongside Sai Pallavi who portrays the role of Goddess Sita, fans are super excited to see which actors will play other roles.
As we all know there are several characters in Ramayana and this film too will have an ensemble cast. Several names have come up in the past of actors playing different roles and one such role is of Kaikeyi. It was reported that Lara Dutta will be playing this role and now in an interview, she has finally broken the silence on the same.
Lara Dutta on playing Kaikeyi’s role in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana
Talking to Indian Express, Lara Dutta quipped that she too has been hearing the reports of her playing Kaikeyi in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana a lot. She further added that she is leaving the rumors 'out there'. “I also like reading and hearing about them so please continue. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of Ramayana?" she went on to joke.
Lara also mentioned the other characters she would have loved to play in Ranbir Kapoor starrer if it was offered to her. Naming the characters she laughed and said, “Surpanakha, Mandodari, I am playing them all.”
In the movie Ramayana, Ranbir Kapoor takes on the role of Lord Ram, while Sai Pallavi portrays Sita Ma. Yash is set to play the ten-headed Ravana. According to the exclusive information from Pinkvilla, Sunny Deol has been cast as Lord Hanuman, while Lara Dutta will bring Kaikeyi to life on screen. There are ongoing discussions with Vijay Sethupathi for the role of Vibhishana, adding more excitement to the star-studded cast lineup.
About Ramayana's shooting schedule
As per reports, Ranbir Kapoor has already started shooting for Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming project and the leaked pictures of the actor in the get-up of lord Ram are proof. The major chunk of shooting is set to happen in Mumbai, spanning around 60 days, followed by a London schedule. The source also revealed that the portions depicting Lanka in the Ramayana narrative will be shot in London for approximately 60 days, with actor Yash joining Ranbir in this leg.
ALSO READ:Ranbir Kapoor starrer Ramayana part one to end with Sita’s abduction? Here’s what parts 2 and 3 hold
Ranbir Kapoor has been riding high on success since the release of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal. Not only has the film become his biggest hit, but it also holds the distinction of being the highest-grossing A-rated film in Indian cinema. Recently, a Twitter user encountered the actor at the airport and shared that Ranbir’s next project is set to be Ramayana, scheduled to commence in the summer of 2024.
Additional details about the film’s shooting schedule are now emerging. According to a report by a leading news portal, As part of the pre-production process for Ramayana, Ranbir Kapoor is scheduled to visit the VFX office of DNEG in LA early next year. In January 2024, he will participate in technical rehearsals lasting a couple of weeks, primarily focused on pre-visualization.
The world of Ramayana has been crafted by the Oscar-winning VFX company, DNEG, which is also leading the production of this epic. The creators aim to pioneer innovative filmmaking technology, with extensive testing already conducted with all three leads: Ranbir, Sai Pallavi, and Yash.
Ramayana is set to be a trilogy, with the first part concentrating on the characters of Ram and Sita, introducing Hanuman. The second part will delve into the character arc of Raavana, portrayed by Yash, while the third part will unfold the epic battle between good and evil.
With the ongoing ICC World Cup creating a nationwide buzz, Bollywood celebrities are joining the excitement. Ranbir Kapoor who is gearing up for his upcoming film Animal, was seen donning an Indian team jersey, expressing his support. The actor engaged in playful banter with the paparazzi, adding a touch of humor to the cricket fervor.
Ranbir Kapoor humorously points out that the paparazzi always catch his double chin with their low angles
Amidst the ICC World Cup excitement, Ranbir Kapoor made a stylish appearance, clad in the Indian team jersey featuring the number 1 and the title of his upcoming film, Animal. As the paparazzi requested photos, he playfully teased them about capturing his low angles that reveal his double chin. Despite the banter, he eventually posed for pictures, even clicking a few with the photographers.
Take a look:
Ranbir Kapoor dances to Channa Mereya at Arijit Singh’s concert
At a recent Arijit Singh concert, the Barfi actor surprised fans with an unexpected treat. Instead of the usual wave-and-sing routine, he elevated the experience by showcasing his legendary Channa Mereya dance move, lighting up the crowd. This impromptu performance had the audience ecstatic.
Ranbir didn’t stop there; he also joined Arijit for a jam on Rasiya from the movie Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva. The actor’s spontaneous energy added a memorable twist to the concert, creating an unforgettable moment for attendees.
Ranbir Kapoor’s work front
Ranbir is currently in the limelight as he gears up for the release of his upcoming film Animal, scheduled to hit the screens on December 1, 2023. Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the movie boasts a star-studded cast including Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, and Tripti Dimri in prominent roles. Interestingly, this release is set to clash with Meghna Gulzar’s Sam Bahadur, featuring Vicky Kaushal.
Beyond Animal, Ranbir has a lineup of exciting projects, including Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra Part 2 – Dev. While there have been speculations about his potential roles in Madhu Mantena’s Ramayana Trilogy and Anurag Basu’s Kishore Kumar biopic, the actor recently disclosed that he’s exploring several scripts, with nothing finalized yet.
As Alia Bhatt quits Ramayana, here’s a look at the B-town and south divas who may be the perfect Sita for the film while Ranbir Kapoor plays Ram and Yash will be Raavan in Nitesh Tiwari’s directorial.
Prabhas led Adipurush, directed by Om Raut and co-starring Saif Ali Khan, Kriti Sanon and Sunny Singh is all set to release. The film has witnessed very good advance bookings for its Hindi version, purely based on the numbers and not the means by which a chunk of them have been ensured. The advance numbers have confirmed that Adipurush will become the second biggest opener of the year for its Hindi version, just behind Pathaan and on an all India and worldwide level, Adipurush will become the biggest opener of the year by an around 10-15 percent margin. The global first day takings at the box office shall be in the north of Rs 120 crores gross.
Adipurush Sells 2.85 Lakh Tickets In National Chains For The Opening Day In Hindi
The 3 national chains of India, namely PVR, Inox and Cinepolis have cumulatively sold around 2.85 lakh tickets for the opening day of Adipurush (Hindi), thus helping it secure the fourth place in the list of highest advance bookings in the national chains for the opening day, in the Hindi language, post pandemic. While Pathaan sits at the top, KGF: Chapter 2 and Brahmastra settle for the second and third spot respectively. PVR is obviously the leading national movie chain, followed by Inox and then Cinepolis. Including the ticket sales of Adipurush in Telugu, the total count of tickets sold in the national chains for the opening day go up to well over 4 lakhs. If films (Hindi language) of all time are considered, the advances of Adipurush are the 12th highest.
Following Is The List Of Indian Films That Have Sold The Highest Number Of Tickets In National Chains (Hindi Language Only)
Bahubali 2: 6.50 Lakhs
Pathaan: 5.56 Lakhs
KGF Chapter 2: 5.15 Lakhs
War: 4.05 Lakhs
Thugs Of Hindostan: 3.46 Lakhs
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo: 3.40 Lakhs
Bharat: 3.15 Lakhs
Sultan: 3.10 Lakhs
Dangal: 3.05 Lakhs
Brahmastra: 3.02 Lakhs
Sanju: 2.94 Lakhs
Adipurush 2.85 lakhs
Tiger Zinda Hai: 2.76 Lakhs
Mission Mangal: 2.71 Lakhs
Movie Chains Like MovieMax Have Observed Very Pleasing Ticket Sales
The pre-bookings for Adipurush (Hindi) are genuinely promising in a lot of small chains and centers but the conspicuous way the ticket purchases have happened across national chains have garnered more attention than they should have. To note, a non national chain like MovieMax has sold around 10,000 tickets for the opening day and 20,000 tickets for the weekend purely in Hindi. The Telugu version of the film has sold around 11,000 tickets in total, taking the cumulative weekend total to 31,000 tickets which is very good. MovieMax is not a high-end chain and focuses on middle class folks and for the film to sell these many tickets surely is encouraging.
Adipurush has a lot going for itself and if the content clicks with the audience that it is targetting, it can really manage to do some excellent numbers.
You can watch Adipurush at a theatre near you in a few hours from now.
