The much-awaited global action-adventure film Varanasi directed by SS Rajamouli, starring Mahesh Babu has been on pause for a planned summer holiday. It follows a long and arduous filming schedule in the city of Hyderabad allowing the cast and crew to have a break on duty before the next phase kicks in. Mahesh Babu was seen at Hyderabad airport, reportedly departing for an international break.
His break is a temporary hiatus from a tightly scripted production timeline for the highly ambitious work to be made in upcoming Indian cinema. The latest studio schedule covered two major locations in Hyderabad.
Originally, the production took place at a specially designed set at Aluminium Factory in Kondapur. The shoot was later staged in Shamshabad where the filmmakers took over a substantial set that had been originally constructed for the Jr NTR starrer Devara. The production design team of Mohan Bingi is thought to have overhauled the set to fit with Rajamouli’s grand vision of Varanasi.
Curiously, these Hyderabad schedules were made after the team had to cancel planned international shoots because of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Although not to mention the recent "ups & downs," the production is still on time keeping the team adapting quickly to get it done, and meeting the schedule. The filmmakers finished a musical sequence choreographed by Bosco Martis before the break. Depending on the song’s choreography and visual style, which is typical of Rajamouli’s work style, the song is likely to be a lot more flamboyant.
And with several key cast members taking time off now, the set has temporarily gone silent. Priyanka Chopra has returned to Los Angeles to fulfill her commitments for other projects. Varanasi differs from other films in that there is now quite a nice blend between time-travel adventure of a modern nature and Indian myths.
Set mainly in Ancient Kashi, the movie hopes to build some spectacular visuals one based on cultural and historic depth. For a further layer of power, the project also has Prithviraj Sukumaran and Prakash Raj in key figures. With music composed by MM Keeravani, the film is due to be released to the theater on April 7, 2027.
The action is set to return in the opening week of June, when teams will start another schedule, most likely the monsoon season. As more and more people continue to wait for the finish of Varanasi, Indians expect this once more to emerge in India after years of being bated.
