Bollywood and Hollywood star Priyanka Chopra Jonas is all set to make her much-awaited Telugu debut in SS Rajamouli’s mega-project Varanasi, where she will share screen space with the Tollywood icon Mahesh Babu for the first timeMovie marks Priyankareturns to Indian production after a long focus on Hollywood. She admitted that her initial hesitation was because she did not speak Telugu, but her meeting with SS Rajamouli in Hyderabad changed everything.“He brought me into his office, and it was just him and me, and he said, ‘Priyanka, there’s no version of this movie that’s going to be released if it’s not the best version of you in every frame,'” the actress recalled in a recent interview with Variety.
A radical return to Indian cinema
Calling her experience in Varanasi transformative, Priyanka admitted that she couldn’t have asked for a more fitting project for her homecoming.“If there was any way to get back into Indian cinema, it would be by making the biggest Indian film, and that’s what this film is,” she says. “I think Sir’s vision is unlike anyone in this country or abroad. His cohort, if you can say so, is the Spielbergs, Nolans, Finchers of the world.”
Varanasi takes place over thousands of years and across many continents, interweaving mythology and history into a cinematic spectacle. Mahesh Babu plays the dual role of hero Rudra and god Rama, while Priyanka plays Mandakini, the leading lady of the film. Prithviraj Sukumaran they are joined as the main antagonist by Kumbha.The worldwide release of the film is scheduled for April 7, 2027.
From Africa to Varanasi
Among the most ambitious plots of the film is a large-scale shooting in Africa during the wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara in Kenya.
The team received special permission and support from the Kenyan government to film in protected areas.“I don’t think many people have had that much freedom or access to the Maasai Mara land, except maybe poachers,” Priyanka said. “Working with real animals was scary and exciting.”Scheduling their schedule around migration meant sleepless nights for the crew. “Everything depended on the animals.
When the elephants moved, we had to move,” she added.
Priyanka Chopra’s look at the Varanasi trailer launch is eye-catching!
A combination of the real and the spectacular
Despite the film’s heavy reliance on visual effects, Rajamouli insisted on a blend of authentic locations, practical sets and VFX prowess.“He is very specific to make this film a combination of real production design, real interaction and visual effects,” explained Priyanka. Born in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka has a spiritual connection with the city of Varanasi.“I am a big Shiva Bhakt,” she said. “Hearing the story and understanding why it’s called ‘Varanasi’ was amazing. No part of me felt that the story didn’t do justice to the history and importance of the city.”
