These men bring Sita to life on stage

Ludhiana: All of 32, he is better known for his portrayal as Sita for the past almost a decade. Surinder Verma alias Raju is a jeweler by profession and has performed roles of several female characters of Ramayana for the past 24 years.

He has been performing in the Ram Lila organised by Saravhitkari Sabha Sri Ram Lila Committee at Machhiwara. Besides Sita, he has portrayed characters of Kaikeyi, Sulochana, Sarupnakha,

Shabri

and Kaushlaya.

Describing his journey, he said, “I was fond of acting since my childhood. I started doing Ram Lila in this group. The first role I got was of sakhi (friend) of Sita due to my height. But gradually I got roles of other female characters, including that of Sita.” He said for an actor, acting is the only thing and he does not mind even if he is getting only female roles.

He said in this Ram Lila, the most difficult thing is sing along with acting. He said he finds weeping the most difficult task on stage. “Though we do not have to sing in female voice, it is still a challenge. At other places, songs are played in the background and actors have to just perform,” he said. He said he has a wife and two children and even they appreciate his acting on the stage.

He can give competition to women

Hailing from

Himachal Pradesh

, 28-year-old Sunil Kumar is an all-rounder and does not want to restrict him to one role only. He performs roles of male characters as well as female characters. He has been fond of acting since he was 11 years old. While in school, he had started acting in Ram Lila. He has performed roles of Sarupnakha and Kaikeyi with Bajrangbali Kala Manch and Ram Lila and Dussehra committee in Basant Avenue.

Recalling the beginning of his acting days, he said, “I had started with role of friend of Sita in Himachal, as I was diehard fan of acting. It is not that I have portrayed only female characters, I have done male characters as well. I had also acted as Sita for a few years.”

Sunil who resides in Manakwal on Dugri Road said, “I can perform role of Sita, but since I want to perform multi characters I prefer other characters despite the fact that organizers have been asking me to go for the Sita’s role.”

He said he selects his dresses himself and can drape saree on his own and even he does his make up without taking anybody’s help.

Sunil said most of the time even they don’t get enough sleep, but they forget discomfort when people appreciate their acting. “A successful actor is the one who can convince audience with his acting no matter which he role he portrays,” he said.

One of his fellow actors

Davinder Singh

said, “Sunil is among the most dynamic actors in our group. Audience likes his performance.”