Mumbai: Rakul Preet Singh's portrayal of Shurpanakha in the trailer for Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra's Ramayana Part 1 has struck a chord with fans — and now the actress has revealed exactly what convinced her to take on the deeply layered role.

Responding to a fan's heartfelt 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, infamous moment she is historically remembered for.

A reply that resonates

In the letter, the fan praised her performance in the trailer and asked what convinced the actress to portray the "misunderstood character." Rakul's response was revealing:

"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 words have clearly connected with audiences eagerly awaiting the mythological epic's release.

'Ramayana: The Introduction' trailer sparks conversation

Released last week, the 3.03-minute trailer for 'Ramayana Part 1' has continued to dominate conversations on social media. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash in the lead roles, with 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, it reportedly carries a budget of Rs. 4,000 crore.

The film is being released in two parts, with Part 1 slated for a Diwali 2026 release and Part 2 arriving during Diwali 2027.

The ensemble cast features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, Yash as Lankana inside 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, and Vivek Oberoi as Vidy. Amitabh Bachchan narrates the film, while Anupam Kher provides the voice for the character of Jatayu.