Rakul Preet Singh Explains Why She Chose to Play Surpanakha in Ramayana

• Rakul Preet Singh says Surpanakha’s complexity was the main reason she accepted the role in Ramayana.
• The actor shared her thoughts after responding to a fan’s open letter on X.
• She said history often remembers Surpanakha for a single incident, while the character has greater depth.
• Rakul hopes audiences approach the character with an open mind when the film releases.
• Ramayana: Part One, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash in lead roles.

Rakul Preet Singh has revealed that the layered nature of Surpanakha’s character convinced her to join Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming epic Ramayana, saying she was drawn to a role that challenges established perceptions.

The actor shared her thoughts after reposting an open letter from a fan on X, where the admirer praised her casting as Surpanakha and described the character as one of the most misunderstood figures in the Ramayana. The letter also asked what inspired her to portray a character largely remembered for a single episode from the epic.

Responding to the message, Rakul wrote :

“Thank you for this beautiful letter. What made me say yes to Surpanakha was exactly what you mentioned – her complexity. History often remembers her for one moment, but there is so much more to her story. As an actor, roles that challenge perception are the most exciting. I hope audiences discover her with an open mind when Ramayana arrives.”

Her remarks come days after the trailer for Ramayana generated widespread discussion online. While much of the conversation focused on Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, Rakul’s brief appearance as Surpanakha also attracted significant attention, with many viewers praising her transformation and screen presence.

In the epic, Surpanakha is Ravana’s sister, whose encounter with Rama, Lakshmana and Sita becomes a turning point in the narrative. After her advances toward Rama are rejected, events involving her lead to the central conflict between Rama and Ravana. Over the years, various interpretations of the epic have sought to examine the character beyond the incident for which she is most widely remembered.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part One is the first installment of a two-part adaptation of Valmiki’s epic. The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana. It is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in collaboration with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations.

The film is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 release, with the second installment planned for Diwali 2027. Multiple reports describe the project as one of the most expensive Indian films ever made, with a reported budget of around ₹4,000 crore. The score is composed by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer.