'Ramayana': Lara Dutta says Kaikeyi was her only choice
What's the story
Lara Dutta, who plays Kaikeyi in Ramayana: Part 1 (2026), has opened up about the role. In an interview with Variety India, she said, "The greatest praise I can receive as an actor is people coming up to me during the interval and saying, 'You made us cry, and we hate you at the same time.'" "Kaikeyi is such a complicated, complex character to play. A woman who's probably been the most misunderstood, hated...possibly the most vilified woman in history."
Character portrayal
'It came with an immense responsibility...'
Dutta said, "I wouldn't have picked any other character to portray. It came with an immense responsibility, and I wanted to humanize her as much as possible."
"To go from doting mother to villain in a very short span of time, convincingly, was a challenge."
The actor also revealed that she didn't expect the role and was surprised when director Nitesh Tiwari offered it to her.
Co-star camaraderie
Praise for Sheeba Chadha, Ranbir Kapoor
Dutta expressed her joy in working with Sheeba Chadha, who plays Manthara.
She said, "It would be impossible to portray this kind of Kaikeyi on screen if I didn't have the incredible Sheeba Chadha."
"What an incredible blessing! What a wealth of experience she brought to the scenes, the set and the emotions as well."
She also praised Ranbir Kapoor's performance as Lord Rama.
Production insights
Experience of working in big-budget film
Dutta called her experience on the Ramayana set "unique." She praised the scale of the production, the technology used, and the massive sets. She also credited producer Namit Malhotra and the 10,000-plus crew members for their hard work.
"The music was incredible," she added.
The Housefull actor said this role could change people's perception of her as an actor and open up new avenues for her career.