Rakul Preet Singh Reveals Why She Chose Soorpanakha Role in ‘Ramayana’

August 28, 2026 Published by rajeshe092eb6a68

Rakul Preet Singh is taking on one of the most intriguing characters in the upcoming ‘Ramayana’. Here’s why the actress was drawn to Soorpanakha despite the character’s negative image.

When actors get the opportunity to be part of a film based on one of India’s most revered epics, the choice of character can become just as important as the project itself. For Rakul Preet Singh, joining the highly anticipated Ramayana meant stepping into the shoes of a character who has traditionally been viewed through a largely negative lens — Soorpanakha.

Interestingly, that negative image was not a deterrent for Rakul. It was the complexity of the character that attracted her.

Soorpanakha Is Not Just a Villain

Rakul has revealed that she was fascinated by the description of Soorpanakha as one of the most beautiful women in Lanka. Beyond her appearance, however, the actress believes there are several shades to the character that offer an actor plenty of scope to perform.

For Rakul, Soorpanakha cannot simply be reduced to the label of a villain. The character has emotions, ego and different layers, making her far more interesting to portray.

“If a character has layers, the actor who performs it will shine. Soorpanakha had an ego, but then she was layered. As an actor, it’s fun to explore those layers,” Rakul said.

That approach could make her portrayal particularly interesting, as the actress appears keen to explore the person behind the traditionally familiar image of Soorpanakha.

Why the Role Excited Rakul

For an actor, negative characters often provide opportunities that conventional heroic roles may not. Characters with conflicting emotions, grey shades and unpredictable behaviour can demand a wider performance range.

That seems to be precisely what attracted Rakul to Soorpanakha.

Rather than playing the character as a straightforward antagonist, she wants to explore the different dimensions written into the role. Her comments suggest that audiences may get to see a more layered interpretation of Soorpanakha than the one they are traditionally familiar with.

A Major Milestone in Rakul’s Career

Being part of Ramayana also makes this a significant project in Rakul’s career. The film brings together some of the biggest names in Indian cinema and is being mounted on a massive scale.

Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, while Sai Pallavi portrays Sita. Yash takes on the highly anticipated role of Ravana, with Rakul playing his sister Soorpanakha.

The casting alone has made the film one of the most closely watched Indian projects.

The Soorpanakha Factor

While Rama, Sita and Ravana remain the central figures most audiences associate with the epic, Soorpanakha’s character plays a crucial role in the chain of events that follows.

That makes Rakul’s role particularly significant. If the film explores the character’s motivations and emotional journey in greater depth, Soorpanakha could emerge as one of the more talked-about performances in the movie.

Rakul’s comments have already given audiences a reason to look at the character differently.

‘Ramayana’ Release Date

Ramayana is scheduled to release on November 6, 2026. With Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana and Rakul Preet Singh as Soorpanakha, expectations are already extremely high.

The biggest curiosity now is not just how Rakul will look as Soorpanakha, but how the film will present the character and the layers that made the actress choose the role in the first place.

For Rakul, this is more than simply playing a negative character. It is an opportunity to reinterpret one of the most fascinating figures from the epic — and that could turn Soorpanakha into one of the film’s biggest talking points.