‘Varanasi’: SS Rajamouli reveals 50 percent shoot of Mahesh Babu-Priyanka Chopra starrer is complete

SS Rajamouli is working on his upcoming magnum opus ‘Varanasi’ starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The movie is currently in production and is expected to complete the shoot by June 2026. Recently, the director shared an update regarding the shoot.While speaking with Collider, SS Rajamouli mentioned that almost 50 percent of the filming is complete. He shared that the hardest part so far was shooting the Ramayana episode in the film. This part required careful planning and considerable effort. Because of the size of the scenes, the team worked slowly and patiently. He also said the film will need a lot of VFX work after the shoot is done. The ‘Baahubali’ director also spoke about the huge love for ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’. He said he is thankful for how people across the world enjoyed the song. He hopes the music of ‘Varanasi’ also creates a strong feeling in people’s hearts. But he clearly said that the team did not try to copy or match the style or tone of ‘RRR’.Talking about slow-motion scenes in the film, SS Rajamouli said, “Much, much before. Much before the shooting or editing on the writing table itself, I'll be figuring out which shots are going to be slow motion. Those moments are the peak moments of emotion, so I can't decide that on the set. It has to be much before.” ‘Varanasi’ is an epic adventure drama. Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, a man who travels across the world and through time. Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Mandakini, a mysterious woman. Prithviraj Sukumaran plays Kumbha, shown as a powerful supervillain. The film also includes Prakash Raj. The movie is announced to hit the big screens on April 7, 2026.