Director SS Rajamouli recently attended an event known as the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. At the festival in France, he presented the upcoming project Baahubali: The Eternal War, a spin-off of his iconic franchise that starred Prabhas in the lead role. There, he also spoke about his upcoming film Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead roles.
Rajamouli suggested that the upcoming film will have elements reminiscent of his previous works, such as Baahubali and Magadheera. Speaking about what audiences can expect from it, the filmmaker said, "You are going to experience the wilderness of Africa, the cold and ice of Antarctica, the Gods of Ramayana, national disasters, and fantastical elements." The filmmaker underscored that a single film itself will have all of the aforementioned.
"That is the experience that you are going to have. However, the core of all this is the emotional father and son (angle). So that expands into all this," Rajamouli said, eliciting big cheers from the audience.
Production on Varanasi is still underway. The film brings back Priyanka Chopra into Indian cinema after 2019's The Sky Is Pink. The actor has been actively working in Hollywood in the intervening years. She is playing a character named Mandakini in the film.
Leading the cast is Mahesh Babu, who stars as Rudhra. Reportedly, Mahesh also plays a version of Lord Ram in the film. On the other hand, Prithviraj Sukumaran portrays the principal antagonist in the film, named Kumbha.
On the technical front, Varanasi has Academy Award-winning composer MM Keeravaani, cinematographer PS Vinod, editor Bikkina Thammiraju, production designers Mohan Nath Bingi and Sandeep Suvarna, and costume designer Rama Rajamouli.
Produced by Dr KL Narayana of Sri Durga Arts and SS Karthikeya of Showing Business, the film is reportedly set for an April 07, 2027, release in theatres.
