Assemblage

Varanasi is an upcoming Indian Telugu-language action-adventure film directed by S. S. Rajamouli, who co-wrote the film with V. Vijayendra Prasad and S. S. Kanchi. Produced by Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business, the film stars Mahesh Babu in a dual role alongside Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The plot follows the adventures of Rudhra (Babu) as the city of Varanasi faces the impending arrival of an asteroid, with the narrative spanning across several timelines. Rajamouli conceived the film as a globetrotting adventure rooted in Indian cultural themes, drawing inspiration from the structure and emotional tone of classic adventure cinema. Initial discussions for a collaboration with Mahesh Babu began in 2010, but the project materialised only after the completion of RRR (2022). The film was formally launched in January 2025, and principal photography commenced the following month in Hyderabad. Filming took place extensively in Hyderabad, in addition to Odisha and Kenya. It is also the first Indian film and the fourth film in the world to shoot in Antarctica. With an estimated budget of ₹1,400 crore, it is set to become one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. The film has music composed by M. M. Keeravani, cinematography by P. S. Vinod, and visual effects by V. Srinivas Mohan. Varanasi is scheduled to be theatrically released on 7 April 2027, coinciding with the festival of Ugadi. It is the first non-English language film to be shot in the 1.43:1 IMAX format.