Mumbai: Speaking on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, Sai Pallavi made a point about self-reflection. That point has now become a debate.
"At the same time, as a scripture, I think, if you are a believer, and you would see, try to introspect, and see what good and bad exists in you, and you learn to correct yourself over time. Because Ravana is not all bad. And it's important that we spot the Ravana in us, and we make changes over time," she said at the October 27 event, according to the clip that has since circulated.
She was answering a question about how the film might help audiences understand Indian culture and its epics. In context, the reference was to looking inward.
Once the clip travelled, the reactions split. One set of viewers read it as a call for introspection and defended her. Another questioned the phrasing, arguing that a line like that about Ravana lands differently in a film built on the epic.
The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi. Its promotion has been running across cities, including an event at Chennai's Trade Centre on Wednesday evening with A R Rahman, Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi.
Separately, members of the Hindu community in Karachi have been seen celebrating the film, with a local YouTuber posting a video of its poster displayed at a temple and people wishing the cast and crew well. Some of them said they hoped it would win an Oscar.
The actor has not issued a clarification on the row. Neither has the film's team.
What the argument has done is move the conversation about Ramayana from its craft to a single sentence spoken at a premiere, and to what a star's aside on a red carpet can set off once it is clipped and reposted.