Hanu Raghavapudi's Sita Ramam narrates a period love story between Sita Mahalakshmi (Mrunal Thakur) and Lieutenant Ram (Dulquer Salmaan), set against the backdrop of India in the 60s. The film is also interspersed with the efforts of Afreen (Rashmika Mandanna), a young woman who is determined to find Sita, years later.
Mrunal Thakur, who celebrates her birthday today, talks about her launch in Telugu cinema and shares that she has always wanted to be part of a film that was larger than life. "It might be visualization or manifestation, but I knew that there was something extraordinary that was going to come my way. I've always wanted to be part of a film like Sita Ramam, which is larger than life. Because through such films we get to play characters who are not just challenging, but also help us discover ourselves. I want those stories to be told. There are stories, there are great stories and then there is Sita Ramam," says the actor adding that it's prestigious to be launched as the heroine of Vyjayanthi Movies (the film's production house) and how that's a tick off her wish list.
Talking about the challenges of starring in a period film in an unfamiliar language, she says, "The first week was extremely difficult. But that's the challenge and I thought I would be able to do it. Be it the lines or the costumes, I felt like this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I had to grab. I remember watching YouTube videos and songs from that era, and it was really beautiful to go back and express it through my eyes. I think I have evolved not just as a person but as an actor, too. So, I'm very grateful."
Sita Ramam's cast and crew come from different industries. When asked if this creates a gap in understanding or makes things complicated, the actor says, "I was so possessive about Sita and the bond she shares with Ram gaaru. It's just so beautiful that I always used to look forward to the scenes irrespective of whether I understood the language or not. It's just the love for the characters we play. Now, when I watch it on the big screen with the characters coming to life, I think whatever hurdles we had, it was worth it."