Priyanka Chopra's Varanasi First Look Revealed as Rajamouli's Costliest Film

Filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli is preparing for the most ambitious project of his career with Varanasi, an epic action-adventure film headlined by Priyanka Chopra and Mahesh Babu. Scheduled for a worldwide release on April 7, 2027, the film is reportedly being produced on an estimated budget of Rs 1,300–1,400 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. The project also marks Rajamouli's first original feature since the global success of RRR and Priyanka Chopra's return to Indian theatrical cinema after a seven-year gap following The Sky Is Pink.

Rajamouli's journey to becoming one of India's most successful directors began far from the grandeur associated with his films today. Born into a Telugu film family, he experienced financial hardships during his early years after his family reportedly lost much of its wealth. His father, acclaimed screenwriter K. V. Vijayendra Prasad, struggled to establish himself, and the family is said to have lived in a modest two-room apartment with several relatives. Although Rajamouli enrolled in an engineering programme, he eventually dropped out and learned filmmaking through practical experience, assisting editors, working in recording studios and directing television serials under veteran filmmaker K. Raghavendra Rao.

Making his feature film debut with Student No. 1 in 2001, Rajamouli went on to deliver an extraordinary box-office record with films including Simhadri, Sye, Chatrapathi, Vikramarkudu, Yamadonga, Magadheera, Maryada Ramanna, Eega, the Baahubali franchise and RRR. Across twelve feature films, he has maintained an unbeaten commercial record, with every release achieving success at the box office. The Baahubali series transformed him into a pan-Indian filmmaker, while RRR earned worldwide acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Naatu Naatu.

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra Reveals Nick Jonas Keeps Her Updated With Bollywood Gossip And Buzz

Varanasi is expected to be Rajamouli's most expansive production yet, with a story that reportedly spans multiple continents and different historical eras. The film is said to feature sequences set in ancient civilisations, Antarctica, Africa and the holy city of Varanasi. Instead of relying entirely on computer-generated imagery, the production recreated the city's iconic ghats, temples and architectural landmarks on elaborate sets in Hyderabad. Additional scenes were filmed in Kenya's Maasai Mara, incorporating natural landscapes and wildlife to enhance the film's visual scale.

Mahesh Babu plays the lead role of Rudhra and is also expected to portray Lord Rama in another narrative thread. Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran has been cast as the antagonist Kumbha, while Priyanka Chopra portrays Mandakini, a central character positioned between the film's principal protagonists. Speaking about the project, Priyanka Chopra recently described the film as an epic adventure that travels across time and continents, revealing that she has been working on the production for over a year and hinting at several elaborate action sequences.

While the makers have not officially confirmed the film's production budget, industry reports estimate its cost at approximately Rs 1,300–1,400 crore. If those figures prove accurate, Varanasi will rank among the costliest productions in Indian cinema history. The film represents both Priyanka Chopra's return to large-scale Indian filmmaking and Rajamouli's biggest cinematic gamble to date, with audiences and the industry closely watching whether the director can extend his remarkable record of commercial success with what promises to be his most ambitious venture yet.

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra Melts Hearts As Malti Marie Lends A Tiny Helping Hand