Poonam Pandey has been cast as Mandodari, the queen of Lanka, in this year’s Lav Kush Ramleela in Delhi, igniting public debate and political scrutiny. Her selection has drawn criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), citing her history of provocative public behavior and social media controversies. Despite these objections, the Ramleela Committee has affirmed their decision to retain her in the role, emphasizing the artistic integrity of casting.