Rakul Preet Singh says Surpanakha in Ramayana is a far more layered character than audiences remember
Actor Rakul Preet Singh, who plays Surpanakha in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, said the character's complexity was what drew her to the role.
Rakul Preet Singh said Surpanakha is a misunderstood and layered character, and that her complexity was the main reason she accepted the part. She also said the film's ambition to present India's history and storytelling to global audiences on an unprecedented scale appealed to her.
In the epic, Surpanakha is Ravana's sister. After she is humiliated in the forest, Ravana abducts Sita, which leads to the war between Rama and the king of Lanka. Rakul said her character's actions set this conflict in motion and that popular memory tends to reduce her to a single episode. She shared similar thoughts on X, hoping audiences would watch with an open mind.
Based on Valmiki's epic, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash, it is divided into two parts. The first arrives in cinemas on November 5, 2026, and the second is expected around Diwali 2027. The production is reportedly budgeted at around ₹4,000 crore.