Rashmika Mandanna on Sita Ramam: I wasn’t sure if I could pull off a rebellious role like Afreen

Many were surprised when Rashmika Mandanna agreed to do an extended cameo in Dulquer Salmaan, Mrunal Thakur starrer Sita Ramam, more so after her popularity as a lead actress. It’s good to see that stardom hasn’t changed her willingness to explore newer horizons. She is cast as Afreen in the Hanu Raghavapudi directorial.

At the trailer launch held in Hyderabad today, Rashmika said, “It feels so good to be back here, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you all. I hope you all liked the trailer. When Hanu Raghavapudi offered me the film, I wondered how would I play a rebel character like Afreen. I wasn’t sure of pulling it off, but if you guys feel otherwise, I think I have managed to do a good job.”

Throwing light on her role, she added, “Every classic love story needs a narrator for the audiences to know how special it is and I play that role and dish out those details in Sita Ramam. I am going to narrate Ram and Sita’s beautiful story and I hope you like my narration and the film too. I wish we did justice and thank you for all the love you’ve been showering upon us.”

Her role as Afreen in the film reminds us of Samantha’s part as a journalist in another periodic saga Mahanati, also bankrolled by the same banner backing Sita Ramam - Swapna Cinema, another division of the popular banner Vyjayanthi Movies. Rashmika, at the trailer launch, was asked to speak a few words in Tamil as well but said that she needs to work more on the language to be fluent.

Produced by Ashwini Dutt, Sita Ramam is edited by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao and cinematographed by PS Vinod, Shreyaas Krishnan. Vishal Chandrasekhar has scored the music and Sunil Babu is the art director. Vyjayanthi Movies is presenting in the film. Sumanth, Gautam Menon, Tharun Bhascker, Prakash Raj, Bhumika Chawla too essay important roles. The film releases on August 5.