By: Express News ServiceSeptember 23, 2025 11:28 PM IST 3 min readActor Poonam Pandey will no longer play the role of Ravan’s wife in the Ramleela organised annually near Red Fort in Delhi, the Luv Kush Ramlila Committee said on Tuesday. The decision comes after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised objections against the committee’s invite to Pandey to play the role.ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO“This year, the committee invited actor Poonam Pandey to play Mandodari. She agreed, and her consent was met with a variety of reactions from various sections of society.The committee believes that if any situation appears to be affecting our message and the sentiments of the society, it is necessary to consider it seriously,” said Arjun Kumar, President, Luv Kush Ramlila Committee.He said that the committee has always worked with the commitment to convey the ideals of Lord Ram, his dignity, and the sacred message of the Ramayana to society. “Our priority is not just staging, but respecting the religion, culture, and faith of society,” he said.Last week, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor and VHP leader Surendra Gupta urged the commitee to reconsider the invitation to Pandey in separate letters. Kumar also said that several saints from across the country opposed the decision.The 10-day Ramleela, one of the oldest in Delhi, is organised every year at Red Fort and is recognised by UNESCO. The committee had announced last week that this year Pandey will play the role of Mandodari, actor Arya Babbar would play Ravan, and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari will be Parashuram.As soon as the committee approached Pandey, she accepted the invite and had said that it was her “dream” to play a role in the Ramleela, and that “it has been fulfilled with the blessings of Lord Shri Ram”.However, raising strong objections, VHP’s provincial minister Surendra Gupta in the letter said, “Ramleela is not just a theatrical performance but a living embodiment of Indian values and traditions…The organisation insists that casting for Ramayana-based productions should not be based solely on acting ability, but must also consider cultural appropriateness and the sentiments of devotees.”Story continues below this adGupta said that “Mandodari” symbolises virtue, dignity, restraint, and the ideal of a devoted wife. “Therefore, the selection of an actress for this role should reflect these ideals.” The VHP urged the committee to “select an actor with a traditional theatre background or one whose public conduct aligns with cultural expectations”.Gupta had also underlined, “Our intention is not to personally oppose any artist, but to uphold the cultural sanctity and the faith of devotees associated with sacred epics like the Ramayana.”On Tuesday, BJP Delhi spokesperson Kapoor welcomed the committee’s decision and said, “By removing Poonam, the Luv Kush Ramlila Committee has shown respect for the sentiments of the religious community and general public.”Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd