Rakul Preet Singh opens up on the ‘complexity’ that drew her to playing Shurpanakha in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’: ‘History often remembers her for one moment, but there is so much more to her story’ |
Rakul Preet Singh‘s portrayal of Shurpanakha in the Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra‘s ‘Ramayana Part 1’ trailer has struck a chord with fans, and the actress recently took a moment to reflect on what drew her to the role. Responding to a fan’s open letter on X (formerly Twitter), Rakul opened up about the character’s complexity and why she believes Shurpanakha deserves to be understood beyond the single moment she’s often remembered for.
Rakul Preet Singh’s heartfelt reply to a fan’s letter
A fan wrote to Rakul on Twitter (now X), praising her performance in the trailer and asking what convinced her to take on the “misunderstood character” of Shurpanakha, while also acknowledging the complexity and challenge involved in portraying her.Responding to the letter, Rakul tweeted, “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. (sic)”
‘Ramayana: The Introduction’ trailer drop sparks a discussion
The 3.03 minute trailer for ‘Ramayana Part 1’, released last week, has continued to dominate conversations on social media. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash in the lead roles, alongside a vast ensemble cast playing pivotal characters, including Rakul as Shurpanakha.Reactions to the trailer have been mixed. While the visual effects, scale and Yash’s performance as Ravana received widespread praise, a section of viewers questioned the casting choices for Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi. Even so, anticipation for the film’s theatrical release continues to build.
About ‘Ramayana’
‘Ramayana: Part 1’ is an upcoming Indian mythological epic directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra (Prime Focus Studios) alongside Kannada star Yash (Monster Mind Creations). Positioned as one of the most expensive and grandest cinematic projects in Indian cinema with a reported budget of Rs. 4,000 crore. Ramayana is being released in two parts, with Part 1 slated for a Diwali 2026 release and Part 2 set to arrive during Diwali 2027.The ensemble cast features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, Yash as Lankanaresh Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, Arun Govil as King Dasharatha, Lara Dutta as Queen Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, Chetan Hansraj as Mali, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjiva. The narrator for the film is Amitabh Bachchan while the voice for the character of Jatayu is courtesy of Anupam Kher.
