Actor Priyanka Chopra has shared a fresh update on Varanasi, her much-awaited Telugu film with director SS Rajamouli, revealing that the ambitious project has been in production for over a year and promising audiences plenty of high-octane action.
Appearing on the Hey Jonas podcast, Priyanka was asked by Nick Jonas about the project. Without divulging many details, she said Rajamouli's filmmaking process naturally demands time, adding that she has been working on the film for around 14 months.
Describing Varanasi as "this epic adventure around the world and in time", Priyanka joked that she performs "so many amazing slow-motion jumps" in the film, before adding with a laugh that that was all she could reveal for now.
The actor had earlier spoken to Variety about reuniting with Indian cinema after an eight-year gap, calling Varanasi unlike any project she has previously worked on. She said the film takes its characters across locations ranging from Antarctica to other spectacular worlds imagined by Rajamouli, whose larger-than-life vision continues to surprise even her.
Priyanka also revealed that one of her conditions before signing the film was that she wanted a dance number. Recalling her conversation with Rajamouli, she said she insisted that her comeback to Indian films had to include a song. While that sequence is yet to be filmed, she shared that she has already completed another dance set piece with highly intricate choreography.
Written by Vijayendra Prasad and directed by Rajamouli, Varanasi stars Mahesh Babu, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Priyanka Chopra. The film combines Indian mythology and folklore with science-fiction elements, including time travel, in what is being billed as a globe-spanning adventure.
When the film's teaser was launched, Rajamouli confirmed that Mahesh Babu would appear as Lord Rama in one of the sequences. Vijayendra Prasad later teased a 30-minute war sequence featuring Rama and Kumbhakarna, describing it as one of the film's standout moments.
One of the most anticipated Indian productions in recent years, Varanasi has already wrapped its major action sequences. Rajamouli recently said filming is expected to conclude by October, with the film currently scheduled to release in theatres in April 2027.