Not Ramya Krishna, This Actress Was First Choice For Sivagami in Prabhas Movie
On September 15th, Ramya Krishnan celebrated her birthday, marking another year of wisdom and excellence. The renowned actress, who took her first steps into the world of cinema as a child artist in the Tamil film 'Vellai Manasu,' has left an indelible mark on the industry. Her illustrious career spans nearly four decades, encompassing over 200 films in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, where she shared the screen with some of the industry's biggest stars.
Among her many cinematic achievements, films like 'Wajood' (1998), 'Bade Miyan Chote Bhai' (1998), 'Chahat' (1996), 'Criminal' (1994), and many others have significantly shaped her career trajectory. However, it is her iconic portrayal of Sivagami in SS Rajamouli's epic 'Baahubali' franchise that stands as a monumental milestone. Interestingly, what many may not know is that she wasn't the initial choice for this role; it was originally offered to the late Sridevi.
Sridevi was initially cast as Sivagami, and SS Rajamouli, along with producer Sobhu Yarlagadda, had approached her for the role of the formidable queen and matriarch in the grand period film. However, negotiations with Sridevi reached an impasse when it was reported that her demands included a fee of Rs10 crore, an entire hotel floor for her family and staff, and 10 flight tickets from Mumbai to Hyderabad for them, where the film was being shot.
Following the film's release, Rajamouli addressed the situation in an interview with media. He revealed, "After hearing a series of wishes from her (Sridevi), our team got fed up. We also thought that meeting her demands would exceed our budget. That's when we approached Ramya Krishnan, and she proved herself to be fantastic. Looking back, we now feel fortunate that we abandoned the idea of having Sridevi in our film."
Born on September 15, 1970, in Chennai, Ramya Krishnan embarked on her acting journey at the tender age of 13. Her portrayal of Sivagami, the queen of Mahishmati, in the magnum opus 'Baahubali' alongside Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Nasser, and Sathyaraj, among others, became a hallmark of her career. After leaving an indelible mark on the silver screen, Ramya Krishnan also ventured into the world of OTT, making her debut as a judge on a popular dance show. Her multifaceted talent continues to shine, captivating audiences across various mediums.
