"Never Have I Ever" Star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Really Wants To Play A Live-Action Rapunzel, And Now I Can't Unsee This Casting
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Never Have I Ever's Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is leaving her high school days behind and looking to trade them in for the princess treatment — the Disney treatment, that is.
During a recent interview with CBS, Maitreyi opened up about her Netflix series coming to an end after four hilarious seasons and the dream project she'd love to do next.
Maitreyi revealed she would love to play Rapunzel and would welcome the idea of this Disney princess being South Asian.
"You know what'd be really cool? I've been saying this and I've been seeing other people saying this. I think Rapunzel should be a South Asian girl," Maitreyi told CBS.
"Because hear me out, no one knows what it feels like to be trapped in your room, not able to go out because your mother is telling you no, without giving you an actual proper reason, like brown girls do."
But this wasn't some random thought that popped into her head. Maitreyi has been manifesting this role for a long time now, speaking openly about it in other interviews and online.
I’ve made it like really clear that like Rapunzel IS my dream role… right? Like we know this… right????☀️💜
— Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (@ramakrishnannn) September 12, 2022
She even tagged Disney to show how serious she was about it.
Tweets have manifesting powers? Alright, @Disney how does a South Asian Rapunzel sound? I can paint, sketch, and sew a dress💜☀️
— Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (@ramakrishnannn) January 26, 2022
She's expressed just how much she related to Rapunzel and would love to make her even more relatable for other brown girls by taking on the role.
Rapunzel. No one can relate harder to being locked in your room by your family than a brown girl😍
— Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (@ramakrishnannn) August 2, 2021
But Maitreyi also considered the "pressure" she's under while being a figure of representation for South Asian girls.
"Of course, there are some people who are in Hollywood — like Hasan Minhaj, Mindy Kaling — but when you're looking for South Asian females and then young South Asian females the number [gets smaller and smaller]."
"So there is a lot of pressure from that representation, but I'm very thankful and privileged to be in this position," she concluded.
And like most casting news when a non-white actor is considering taking on the role of a white, animated fictional character, it was met with mixed responses:
I would like to see that adaptation. Anyone should have an opportunity to play a fairytale character.
— sally shine. (@Ayee_Kels) June 9, 2023
Worst opinion of all time
— Sweety Eternity 💙 (@sweety_eternity) June 9, 2023
Rapunzel is 💯 a brown girl cuz who else got hair that long and thick?? AND she is not allowed to a leave a tower cuz her mother said so? She desi!!!!! https://t.co/G6x75qrLyn
— Kashmala Fida Mohatarem (@KashFida) September 12, 2022
the eradication of white people in film is here
— AM (@arinmont) June 9, 2023
I think this is really sweet omg. Would be amazing 🤩
— Heav ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 (@sayyestonevaeh) June 9, 2023
That wouldn’t be repunzel then. The character is white. Why are people so obsessed with destroying character design.
— arik 👽 (@tthankunextt) June 9, 2023
Honestly this would be such a perfect take on tangled! This would be so relatable for Middle Eastern and South Asian girls. Being locked up in your own room, crowded by responsibilities and restrictions, simply because you are a daughter. Overbearing parents, who aren’t ready-
— Kiera 아포방포 ia (@Kiera91612320) June 9, 2023
THE SOUTH ASIAN RAPUNZEL CAMPAIGN SHALL NEVER END TILL WE GET IT. I REPEAT IT WILL NEVER END TILL WE GET IT. https://t.co/VoWaKoELyQ
— k/கண்ணன் (@kschameleon) September 12, 2022
Well, I would love to see this adaptation happen! There are so many fun ways that Disney can spin this retelling. Would you like to see Maitreyi play Rapunzel? Tell us who else you'd cast in the film.
Netflix
To read more about Maitreyi, check out her full interview with CBS. And be sure to watch the fourth and final season of Never Have I Ever, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
