After Poonam Pandey’s dismissal from the role of Mandodari, Major Shalu Verma is all set to step into the character in this year’s Luv Kush Ramlila at Delhi’s Red Fort. The change happened because some political, religious, and social groups felt Pandey was not suitable for the role.
Committee President Arjun Kumar and General Secretary Subhash Goyal said that although Poonam Pandey had agreed to play Mandodari, many groups and people objected after her name was announced. The committee felt that this could distract from the main purpose of the Ramlila, to share the message of Lord Shri Ram.
After detailed deliberations, the committee unanimously decided to entrust the role of Mandodari to Major Shalu Verma. Arjun Kumar said, “This year, our Ramlila is also themed around ‘Operation Sindoor’. Hence, we took the decision to assign key roles to members of the armed forces. Major Shalu Verma will play Mandodari, and in addition, four to five other defence personnel will also feature in significant roles.”
Also Read: Why did the Luv Kush Ramlila Committee remove Poonam Pandey from Mandodari role?
Why did the Luv Kush Ramlila Committee remove Poonam Pandey from Mandodari role?
Poonam Pandey was originally chosen for the role, but controversy grew when the BJP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) opposed her participation. Delhi BJP media cell head Pradeep Shankar Kapoor asked the organisers to reconsider, pointing to her past controversies like her 2011 promise to strip if India won the ODI World Cup and her 2024 fake death announcement saying these could hurt devotees sentiments.
According to the VHP, the choice of actors in Ramayana based plays should depend not only on acting skills but also on cultural sensitivity. “The character of Mandodari represents virtue, dignity, restraint, and the ideal of devoted wifehood. Therefore, the selection of the artist for this role should reflect these ideals,” stated in a letter written to the organizers asking them to reconsider their decision.
This year’s Lav Kush Ramlila, beginning September 22 at Red Fort, will also feature Arya Babbar as Ravan, Kinshuk Vaidya as Ram, Rini Arya as Sita, and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari as Parashurama.
