Ramayana: Rakul Preet wasn’t original pick for Surpanakha, makers initially approached THIS global star

Before Rakul Preet Singh came on board for the role of Surpanakha in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, the makers had reportedly approached global star Priyanka Chopra Jonas for the same part. As per a report by ETimes, the team behind the film believed that Priyanka could bring depth to the role, which is considered pivotal in the epic’s narrative arc.

A source quoted in the report shared, “Surpanakha is one of the main reasons the Ramayana took place. The makers were keen on having Priyanka Chopra for the same role. But things didn’t work out owing to her packed schedule with international projects. That’s when Rakul came on board. She fitted the role perfectly and brought intensity and a fresh take to the character.”

The film, mounted on a reported budget of over Rs 800 crore, features a star-studded cast with Ranbir Kapoor playing Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash essaying the role of Ravana. Other notable names in the ensemble include Amitabh Bachchan (reportedly as Jatayu), Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Mohit Raina as Lord Shiva, and Arun Govil as King Dasharath. The lineup is rounded out by Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, Kunal Kapoor as Lord Indra, and Vivek Oberoi as Vidhyutjiva.

Despite fan curiosity around how Priyanka might have interpreted the role of Surpanakha, the actress remains focused on her international commitments. Her next release is the action-comedy Heads of State, also starring John Cena and Idris Elba, scheduled to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on July 2.

In addition to that, Priyanka is also working on The Bluff, a period drama, along with Citadel Season 2. She is also attached to S.S. Rajamouli’s next big project, SSMB29, co-starring Mahesh Babu.

Although her portrayal of a mythological character in an Indian epic would have marked a new chapter in her career, scheduling conflicts seem to have made it unfeasible. With Rakul stepping in, the role of Surpanakha is expected to be handled with a fresh perspective in Tiwari’s ambitious cinematic retelling.