Varanasi: Mashesh Babu & Priyanka Chopra Tease India’s Big 2027 Spectacle

The most ambitious film in Indian cinema is bringing together three of the country’s leading actors. “Varanasi,” the new, sweeping historical drama by acclaimed director SS Rajamouli, stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran.

N.T. Rama Rao Jr., known as Babu, is a massive star – his popularity in Hyderabad rivals that of Taylor Swift in the U.S. Priyanka Chopra is a leading figure in Bollywood, and currently India’s highest-paid actress, with over 50 films under her belt. Her new film, Varanasi, marks her return to Indian cinema after spending ten years in Hollywood. Meanwhile, actor-director Fahad Sukumaran has earned an impressive 31 awards and boasts over 100 acting and directing credits, making him a highly accomplished and experienced performer.

To mark the announcement of the title and first look at Varanasi last November, ScreenRant journeyed over 8,000 miles to Hyderabad. There, they interviewed Babu, Chopra, and Sukumaran to explore what viewers around the world can expect when the film releases in April 2027.

Mahesh Babu & SS Rajamouli’s Collaboration Is 15 Years In The Making

“He calls me to the office, and he narrates the script to me…”

For most of the 21st century, Mahesh Babu has been the leading actor in Telugu cinema, and S.S. Rajamouli the most successful director. It’s surprising it took so long for these two major figures to finally collaborate.

Babu said they had planned to collaborate for fifteen years. After finishing the film RRR, the other person took a year off and didn’t share what he was working on, leaving Babu wondering what was going on. Then, a year after RRR came out, he called Babu in and told him about a script set in Varanasi, which Babu found incredibly exciting.

Babu explained that he first learned about the story’s idea during a meeting at Rajamouli’s office, and confirmed that in the previous fifteen years of talks between them, the city of Varanasi had never been mentioned.

Babu explained that the movie is a departure for SSR, blending action, adventure, mythology, and time travel. As a huge fan of SSR’s work, he was thrilled when he learned about the project. Initially, being the lead role felt daunting, but SSR guided him through the process wonderfully, and he’s now really enjoying the experience.

Varanasi Represents Priyanka Chopra’s Indian Homecoming

“The culture of filmmaking is very different in Hollywood…”

Priyanka Chopra’s role in Varanasi marks a number of new experiences for her. She’s collaborating with director SS Rajamouli for the first time, it’s her debut in a Telugu film, and it’s her first Indian movie project in more than ten years.

Priyanka Chopra recently shared her observations about the differences between filmmaking in Hollywood and India. She explained that each industry requires a completely different mindset. ‘It’s like you have to switch your brain off and on,’ she said. ‘The lessons you learn in one place just don’t apply to the other. You really need to fully embrace the way things are done in each environment.’

Chopra explained that, despite differences in filmmaking styles around the world, she focuses on the vision of each director when working on a project, rather than where the film is made.

Priyanka Chopra explained that as an actor, she always aims to bring a director’s vision to life, whether working with someone like Ilya Naishuller or filmmakers in Indian and international cinema. She believes it’s important to approach each project with an open mind and embrace the unique creative environment. Chopra expressed her excitement about returning to Indian films with this particular project, calling it the perfect opportunity. She’s thankful for the chance to work alongside experienced actors and, especially, director Rajamouli, whom she considers a truly groundbreaking visionary.

Prithviraj Sukumaran Embraces Another Iconic Antagonist

“It is truly one of the most unpredictable characters that I’ve ever listened to…”

Varanasi

Prithviraj Sukumaran has become well-known for playing convincing villains. The actor, originally from Kerala, has been praised for his roles as the antagonist in films like Naan Shabana and Kaaviya Thalaivan, for which he even won a Best Villain award at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.

Sukumaran, who plays the villain in the film, described his character, Kumbha, as remarkably unpredictable. He explained that even during the initial story narration by Rajamouli, he was constantly surprised by the character’s twists and turns. This unpredictability, Sukumaran believes, is what makes Kumbha so compelling and drives many of the story’s key events.

Sukumaran wasn’t just drawn to the compelling character of Kumbha; he was also excited by Rajamouli’s ambitious and bold plan for depicting Varanasi.

Sukumaran explained that people often think of ‘scale’ in terms of how much money is spent or how visually impressive something is. However, he believes true scale comes from the power of imagination. He feels that if that’s the case, this film is as large as cinema can get, praising the director’s incredibly ambitious vision and creative thinking.

2026-02-17 00:22