the sitar strings you are emulating are actually thinner than that, although the scale length is longer. Sitar scale length is around 35 inches or 88cm, so more like an electric Bass than a guitar scale length.DoobieBrother69 wrote: The limited bends are from playing it on the C string and having to push up. The C string is only .045", so don't want to snap it.
Something to consider trying there if you have an old planky bass around and know how to cut and seat a nut (it's not hard and you can make your own tools to do it very cheaply). You'd be wanting some quite tall frets on such a beast though.
I'm not saying you could make a Sitar and play like a master player(which is the key to a sitar sound), but it might be a good and fun instrument with an unusual tonality and playability. I'm always a fan of those.