logo
Exclusive: Was Priyanka Chopra the original choice to play Surpanakha in Ramayan?

Exclusive: Was Priyanka Chopra the original choice to play Surpanakha in Ramayan?

Time of India11-06-2025
Priyanka Chopra and Rakul Preet Singh
In a surprising twist to the casting of
Nitesh Tiwari
's film Ramayan, sources reveal that
Priyanka Chopra
was initially approached to portray the pivotal character of Surpanakha, the sister of Ravan. However, due to her packed schedule with international commitments, the role eventually went to
Rakul Preet Singh
.
According to an insider, 'Surpanakha is one of the main reasons the Ramayan 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.'
Rakul, who will be seen in this epic trilogy, has reportedly undergone a look test for the role and is excited about stepping into the world of this mythological tale.
The actress is yet to confirm her presence in the project.
Ramayan, targeted for a Diwali 2025 release, boasts a star-studded ensemble cast featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravan, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi. It will be interesting to see Rakul play Surpanakha, a character whose actions set the stage for the epic conflict between Lord Ram and Ravan. Meanwhile, we reached out to Priyanka's team for a confirmation but are yet to hear back from them.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mukesh Khanna opens up on Ranbir Kapoor playing Ram in Ramayana, saying, 'Portraying Ram won't...'
Mukesh Khanna opens up on Ranbir Kapoor playing Ram in Ramayana, saying, 'Portraying Ram won't...'

India.com

timea day ago

  • India.com

Mukesh Khanna opens up on Ranbir Kapoor playing Ram in Ramayana, saying, 'Portraying Ram won't...'

Mukesh Khanna, famous for his iconic role as Bhishma Pitamah in the TV epic Mahabharat, is known for speaking his mind. Recently, he shared his thoughts on the upcoming film Ramayan, starring Ranbir Kapoor and directed by Nitesh Tiwari. What does Mukesh Khanna say about Ranbir Kapoor playing Ram? In an interview with Galatta India, Khanna expressed doubts if Ranbir Kapoor can truly embody the 'Maryada Purushottam'—the epitome of virtue and restraint that Ram is. He said, 'You are showing Ram climbing trees and shooting arrows. Krishna or Arjun can do that, but Ram would not. If Ram called himself a warrior, he would never ask for help from monkeys. He alone was enough to fight Ravan.' Khanna also mentioned the challenge Ranbir faces because of his recent controversial film Animal, stating, 'He is a good actor, but he has an image from Animal. If you portray Ram as a fighter, people won't accept it. Ram accepted 14 years of exile with folded hands, endured Shabari's false hatred; he never used bows and arrows for show.' Did Mukesh Khanna try to speak up before? Khanna revealed he had made a short video expressing his concerns about the portrayal of Ram in the Ramayan: The Introduction teaser. However, his team informed him the clips he saw were AI-generated fake videos by YouTubers, so he decided not to upload it on social media. What was Khanna's reaction to Ranbir's personal choices? When a publication asked about Ranbir's casting given that he admitted to eating beef, Khanna replied, 'I said I won't comment. Maybe he ate it, maybe he stopped. Let it be.' How does Khanna view the scale and content of Ramayan? 'Ramayan is the greatest story ever,' Khanna said. But he warned that making it with a 1000-crore budget won't guarantee success. 'Ramayan doesn't succeed because of money; it's content that matters. Just like Shaktimaan didn't become popular because of stars but because of its story.' Is star power necessary for Ramayan? Khanna was clear: 'If you put a star in Shaktimaan hoping the film will work, that means you don't trust the story itself. So why do you need big stars in Ramayan?' He pointed out that the movie already includes strong actors like Sunny Deol, Sai Pallavi, and Yash.

Exclusive - Harleen Kaur Rekhi on playing the lead in Kaamdhenu Gaumata: It's an absolute blessing
Exclusive - Harleen Kaur Rekhi on playing the lead in Kaamdhenu Gaumata: It's an absolute blessing

Time of India

time2 days ago

  • Time of India

Exclusive - Harleen Kaur Rekhi on playing the lead in Kaamdhenu Gaumata: It's an absolute blessing

New TV show Kaamdhenu Gaumata is all set to air from August 11. The show is being produced by Prem Sagar and Shiv Sagar, features actress Harleen Kaur Rekhi in the titular role of Kaamdhenu Devi. The actress spoke about being part of the show and said, "It's an absolute blessing. The story of Kaamdhenu Gaumata has never been told in its entirety on Indian television." "People have only seen fragments, never the full truth. What Prem Sagar sir, Ramanand Sagar sir, Shiv Ji, and Neelam ma'am are doing is remarkable. Their vision and dedication are awe-inspiring. If you look at Ramayan, it's still a benchmark even today. I truly hope our efforts, from pre-production to post-production, resonate with audiences in the same way," she added. She also confessed that working on the show deepened her spiritual beliefs. She said, "I've always been spiritual—there's a difference between being religious and being spiritual, and I connect with both." "I've been performing in Ramleela for the last 10–12 years during Navratri , so mythology has always been close to my heart. But this show took it to another level. I felt like I explored a whole new version of myself. It deepened my inner connection with the universe," she added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Family Pictures That Will Definitely Make You Laugh Out Loud Undo She further said, "I bonded with Kapila (our Gaumata) on day one itself. Though I was always fond of Gaumata, I never had the courage to be in close proximity to cows — maybe I was just uncomfortable because I've never had pets or been around animals closely. But after spending 4–5 months on set with her, the experience transformed me. Even when my parents visited the set, I made sure they met her. She was so loving and calm. Parting away from her was painful too — she could even recognize me just by hearing my footsteps or voice. It's taken my perspective to a whole new level," Harleen ended. Mahir Pandhi on his role in Choti Sardarni: Wearing a turban is a huge responsibility and honour

Priyanka Chopra Gets Emotional On Barfi's 13th Anniversary: ‘One Of The Last Films My Dad...'
Priyanka Chopra Gets Emotional On Barfi's 13th Anniversary: ‘One Of The Last Films My Dad...'

News18

time3 days ago

  • News18

Priyanka Chopra Gets Emotional On Barfi's 13th Anniversary: ‘One Of The Last Films My Dad...'

Priyanka Chopra marked 13 years of Barfi! with an emotional post, recalling it as one of the last films her late father visited her on set before his illness. Barfi! remains one of the most iconic films in Priyanka Chopra's filmography. The movie, starring Ileana D'Cruz and Ranbir Kapoor, shows Priyanka as an autistic girl, Jhilmil. Now, as the movie completes 13 years since its release, the actress got emotional and recalled why this movie remains one of the most special for her. Taking to her Instagram stories, Priyanka shared a picture with her mom and dad and wrote, 'Barfi was one of the last films my dad visited me on set for before his illness." Further, she shared another picture of her dad receiving an award on her behalf and wrote, 'My win was his win. He accepted the award for Barfi for me. This was his last public appearance, 3 months before he passed. TOIFA 2013, Vancouver." Yesterday, Priyanka Chopra took to her Instagram and shared a video montage of her stills from Barfi!. In her caption, she recalled, 'In Jan 2009, while filming Anjaana Anjaani in New York with Ranbir Kapoor, he mentioned his next, Barfi! with Anurag Basu, a filmmaker I admired. So when Sir offered me Jhilmil, I was thrilled. We met at my Mumbai home; I'd just returned from an event, dressed to the nines. He took one look and said he couldn't imagine me as Jhilmil. I understood; I didn't want to mess it up either. We agreed to workshop for 5 days." She further added that she and Anurag Basu immersed themselves into research—reading, watching videos, meeting children on the autism spectrum, and doing exercises in the director's Aram Nagar office. 'One day, he asked me to hurl vile Hindi expletives at him. Mortified, I still tried—it was hilarious, liberating, and pulled me out of my comfort zone. After more 'Basu-style' drills, Jhilmil was born," she wrote. Priyanka Chopra Praises Her Barfi! Co-Star Ranbir Kapoor 'Barfi! remains one of my most treasured films—for the creativity, the crew, and the joy of shared challenges. Ravi Varman's cinematography was pure poetry. Gorgeous Ileana D'Cruz brought such grace to Shruti, Ranbir shone like the star he is, and Anurag Sir—brilliant, gentle, playful. His storytelling is magic," wrote Priyanka. 'They did beyond our dreams. The love for Jhilmil has stayed with me ever since. On this nostalgic Saturday, I felt like sharing. What are you reminiscing about these days?" she concluded. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store