Overview

• The Delhi unit of the VHP formally asked the organisers to reconsider, saying Mandodari represents virtue and the role should reflect cultural expectations.
• Delhi BJP media head Praveen Shankar Kapoor, also a senior vice president of the committee, wrote to its leadership requesting Pandey be replaced.
• Committee president Arjun Kumar said the casting stands, framed it as a second-chance opportunity for a woman artist, and indicated willingness to discuss concerns.
• The UNESCO-recognized Luv Kush Ramlila at the Red Fort opens September 22, with Arya Babbar set to play Ravan and Pandey scheduled for September 29–30.
• Reports note critics cite Pandey’s previous controversies, including her 2011 World Cup strip promise, a 2017 app removed by Google for explicit content, and a 2024 false-death publicity stunt.