The tale of the Ramayana truly took a dramatic turn when Lakshmana severed Surpanakha’s nose with his arrow, prompting her to approach her brother Ravana and ignite in him a dangerous desire for Sita.

Surpanakha's actions became the spark that set the epic in motion. In Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming adaptation, this pivotal role will be brought to life by Rakul Preet Singh.

But did you know that Rakul Preet Singh was not the first choice for Ramayana?

Yes, according to the latest reports, Priyanka Chopra was initially approached for the role of Surpanakha, but she rejected the role.

© Instagram/Priyanka Chopra

A source close to the production told TOI, “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.”

Touted as the biggest movie of Hindi cinema, Ramayana is currently being shot under Nitesh Tiwari’s direction and Namit Malhotra’s production.

Ramayana star Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Raavan, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara, Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana, Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjiva, and Kunal Kapoor as Lord Indradeva.

The film will be made in two parts and the first instalment will be released on Diwali 2026.

The second part will be released on Diwali 2027.

© Instagram/Nitesh Tiwari

Meanwhile, Priyanka Chopra is currently shooting for SS Rajamouli’s SSMB 29 with Mahesh Babu, which also has a connection to Ramayana.

It will be a globe-trotting adventure story where we will see Mahesh Babu going on a quest for Sanjeevani Booti (a mystical herb mentioned in Ramayana).

R. Madhavan will reportedly join Priyanka Chopra and Mahesh Babu in SSMB29.