Actress Sonia Balani has described playing Urmila in Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious film Ramayana: Rise of a Legend as an opportunity she had never imagined. In a recent interview, the actor opened up about her casting journey, revealing that she initially auditioned for the role of Soorpanakha before being selected to portray Urmila, the wife of Lakshman.
Sonia's casting story is particularly interesting because her first preference was a character quite different from the one she eventually played. She was drawn towards Soorpanakha, a complex character with shades of grey, but the filmmakers had another role in mind for her. According to her account, she was finalised as Urmila within a day of the audition process.
The actor's experience offers a glimpse into the casting and preparation behind one of the film's important supporting characters. It also brings attention to Urmila, whose emotional journey is often discussed less prominently than those of Ram, Sita and Lakshman.
Sonia Balani Initially Wanted to Play Soorpanakha
Speaking about her initial preference, Sonia explained that she finds grey characters particularly interesting as an actor. Such roles, she believes, offer opportunities to explore different emotions through expressions, eyes and body language.
She had therefore been keen to portray Soorpanakha. However, after auditioning, she was offered the role of Urmila instead. The decision came as a surprise, but Sonia said she felt fortunate to be chosen for the character.
Her casting also reflects how an actor's initial expectations can change during a film's selection process. Although she had imagined herself playing a different character, preparing for Urmila helped her discover an emotional dimension she had not previously explored.
Understanding Urmila's Extraordinary Sacrifice
For Sonia, one of the biggest challenges was understanding Urmila's emotional strength. In the Ramayana, when Lakshman decides to accompany Ram and Sita into exile, Urmila remains in Ayodhya. She accepts a long separation from her newly married husband so that he can fulfil his duty.
Sonia admitted that this sacrifice was difficult for her to comprehend from the perspective of a woman belonging to the present generation. She described Urmila's decision as something beyond her imagination and said she was still trying to understand how the character found the strength to make such a sacrifice so soon after marriage.
The actor's comments highlight the emotional complexity of Urmila's role. While Lakshman's journey takes him into the forest, Urmila's story is shaped by the separation and responsibilities she accepts back home.
For Sonia, portraying the character was not simply about recreating a familiar figure from the epic. It required her to understand the inner strength, devotion and emotional restraint behind Urmila's choices.
‘She Never Wanted to Be the Main Character in Her Own Story’
One of Sonia's strongest takeaways from playing Urmila was the character's selflessness. She was particularly moved by the idea that Urmila made sacrifices without expecting recognition or demanding that her contribution become the centre of the story.
Sonia observed that Urmila never wanted to be the main character in her own story. Her interpretation focuses on a woman who accepts her circumstances and contributes to something larger than herself without seeking public appreciation.
This perspective also explains why Sonia was not particularly concerned about the amount of screen time her character would receive. She said that being part of a project like Ramayana and getting the opportunity to work with director Nitesh Tiwari mattered more to her than how prominently Urmila featured in the film.
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