No Malayali can ever forget the iconic teacher ‘Malar’ in Nivin Pauly’s ‘Premam’. Before becoming one of the most celebrated actors in Indian cinema, Sai Pallavi he experienced a childhood moment that almost ended his love for acting. What started with an emotional dance competition has turned into an inspiring journey that has now led him to portray Goddess Sita in Nitesh Tiwari“Ramayana”.
The dance that changed everything
Sai Pallavi’s passion for dance developed at a young age. She grew up in Coimbatore with her family roots in Kotagiri in the Nilgiris, encouraged by her mother Radha Kannan, who is a trained dancer. Inspired by artists like Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai, Sai spent countless hours watching dance performances and learning through observation.However, his first stage performance became an unforgettable experience for a different reason.Years back, recalling Nijam’s incident with Smita, Sai Pallavi said, “I think it was on the first level. I cut the boy’s hair. It was a Shah Rukh Khan song, Karisma Kapoor’s Dil To Pagal Hai! Yes. It was my first dance.”She then described how a wardrobe mishap left her publicly embarrassed.She shared, “It wasn’t a stage as such. It was how we got this podium here. It was a competition between schools. I don’t know why my mom took me there, but I went with her. They attached a dupatta with a clip to my hair to make it look like long hair. It fell halfway through the performance and I felt so uncomfortable. I thought I had talent and started dancing. My mom started dancing.“Despite the incident, her mother continued to encourage her, helping her regain her confidence and continue dancing.
Balance medicine and film career
Born on May 9, 1992, Sai Pallavi followed an unconventional route before entering cinema. Alongside his passion for acting, he completed his MBBS at Tbilisi State Medical University in Georgia. During these years, she also appeared on dance reality shows and in smaller acting jobs before making her big break.Her career took a drastic turn with Alphonse Puthren’s ‘Premam’ in 2015. Playing Malar, she won great acclaim for her understated and down-to-earth performance. It is safe to say that ‘Malar’ was a strong opener for Sai.Instead of choosing conventional commercial roles, Sai Pallavi built her filmography around strong characters. Films like ‘Kali’, ‘Fidaa’, Dulquer Salmaan’s ‘Love Story’, Nani’s ‘Shyam Singha Roy’, ‘Gargi’ and ‘Amaran’ showcased his acting versatility and breadth.His popularity also grew through dance. Songs like “Rowdy Baby” became national sensations and introduced her to audiences across India. While Dhanush’s ‘Maari 2’ was a letdown, the song ‘Rowdy Baby’ was a super hit.
Enter the world of “Ramayana”
Sai Pallavi is now gearing up for one of the biggest projects of her career with Ramayana. She plays Sita, while Ranbir Kapoor portrays Lord Rama.During the Ramayana: Pratham Sankalp event in New Delhi, Sai Pallavi spoke publicly about the film for the first time. She expressed gratitude for being chosen for the role and revealed that she dedicated almost three years to the ambitious project. The ensemble cast also includes Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman.