Rakul Preet Singh has made her mark in both South Indian and Hindi cinema with a diverse range of roles. The actor is now part of one of Indian cinema’s most ambitious projects, Ramayana, in which she plays Surpanakha. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash in lead roles, the film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra. Ahead of its release on Thursday, Rakul spoke about her character, the experience of working on the epic and more.
When asked what made her take on a character generally perceived as negative, Rakul said being part of such an ambitious project was a major reason. “I wanted to be part of a vision that has never been created in India. Even though I initially hesitated, what Namit sir and Ritesh sir were creating on this scale was just a dream. It was an epic vision, and I wanted to be part of it. Surpanakha is a very important character in the Ramayana, as she changes the course of events. So, it is definitely an important part of this epic,” says Rakul, pointing out how big multi-starrer projects in the West bring together leading actors and create something special. “We are not able to do that very often in India. With this film, I am seeing that vision come to life, with so many stalwarts coming together to create something spectacular.”
Although the Ramayana is familiar to most people, Rakul believes that the film explores several aspects of the epic that audiences may not have seen in detail. “Most of the depictions are popular and shorter versions of the story. But this version of the Ramayana explores a lot more of the Lanka side of the story, including Surpanakha's character. I also delved into the details to understand her better, and the team did extensive research as well. The film explores the major events surrounding her in considerable detail,” says the actor, who points out that this version does portray the layers of her character. "I know a lot more about her now than I did before taking up the film."
Speaking about her experience of working with Yash, who plays Ravana, Rakul says, “He is fantastic. I think Yash is beyond what you can comprehend; it is almost magical. He is a great actor and such a fine person. He is so inspirational, and it is amazing to see how passionate, hardworking, and extremely talented people like him are.” Ramayana brings together several actors from different industries, and as someone who has been part of multiple industries throughout her career, Rakul says, "It is very rare for a film like this to bring so many people together to create something on this scale. Of course, I don't share screen space with everyone, but I got the opportunity to interact with many of them during the table reads and initial preparation days.”
Asked about the most challenging aspect of playing a character from Indian mythology and whether she underwent any special training or physical transformation, Rakul had an interesting take. “I think it is not challenging, but exciting. If I have to point out one aspect, getting the look right was probably the most challenging part. Of course, it is about creating the character in its entirety, but I wouldn't call it challenging. That is the exciting part of bringing a mythological character to life,” she says.
It has been nearly five years since Rakul last appeared in a Telugu film. When asked about the long gap, Rakul assures that it wasn't something that was consciously planned. "I think it is just how things have worked out. I really want to do a Telugu film, but I want to take up something that challenges me and allows me to explore a different dimension of myself, something beyond what audiences have seen me do in Telugu cinema. I miss Telugu films, and I would absolutely love to work here again,” says Rakul.
With Ramayana aiming to introduce the epic to a global audience on a grand scale, Rakul also believes that the film will connect with younger generations. “Yes, definitely. Ramayana is our mythology, our truth and history. It is something every Indian must know and understand. This film will certainly help younger audiences connect with the epic, especially through the scale on which it is being presented, the visual experience, and the way the story has been told. With the best technology available today, it will be exciting for the younger generation. It is not just about Indian audiences; people across the world should get to know an epic like this. I think it sets a benchmark for everyone to witness a story of this scale,” she says.
Talking about her upcoming projects, Rakul said she is in discussions for a few interesting projects but it is too early to announce anything yet. “I can't say anything as of now. I will make an announcement when the time is right. What I am looking for is to challenge myself with every role and try different things that I haven't attempted before. I hope that happens,” she signs off.