Story perspectives

Rajamouli Unveils Priyanka Chopra Teaser for Varanasi

7/19/2026

Summary

Chopra Shoots Varanasi

Director S.S. Rajamouli released two photos showing Priyanka Chopra Jonas for his upcoming film Varanasi.
Rajamouli captioned the images “Grace when she smiles. Fire when she doesn’t. Mandakini… @PriyankaChopra #Varanasi.”
Chopra revealed she spent 14 months filming Varanasi and performed numerous slow-motion jumps.
The film stars Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran, includes music by Oscar-winning composer M.M. Keeravani, and is scheduled for release in April 2027.

Summary

Chopra Commutes Filming

Priyanka Chopra has been shuttling between India and the United States for over two years while filming the movie Varanasi.
Most of Varanasi’s principal photography was shot in Hyderabad, Telangana, where large sets were constructed.
The film’s teaser premiered at Hyderabad’s Globetrotter event on November 15, 2025, showing a 512 CE Varanasi, an asteroid strike, scenes from Africa and Antarctica, and ending with Mahesh Babu on a bull brandishing a trishul.

Summary

Chopra Films Antarctica

The film became the first Indian production to shoot scenes in Antarctica, marking a historic Bollywood milestone.
Director Rajamouli exercises complete control on set, allowing actors to focus solely on their characters.
A first-look image of Chopra’s Mandakini character was released on her birthday, revealing a new visual style.
At Cannes Lions, Chopra discussed her collaboration with Rajamouli, emphasizing his meticulous vision and the film’s multi-continent, multi-timeline ambition.

Summary

Rajamouli Unveils

A poster released on January 30 2026 shows a meteor striking Earth, indicating an apocalyptic element.
The film is being produced by SS Durga Arts and Showing Business, companies not previously cited in coverage.
The same poster shows giraffes and zebras against misty blue-grey mountains, indicating a global visual scope.
Rajamouli markets Varanasi as a “globetrotter,” blending cosmic disaster with Indian mythology, and shares Priyanka Chopra’s birthday stills on his social-media account.

History

Historical Context

When James Cameron released Titanic in 1997, its ambitious scope—later echoed in his 2005 documentary Aliens of the Deep, filmed with NASA scientists and a submersible—showed that massive, multi-location productions could thrive. Inspired by that model, director S.S. Rajamouli is pursuing a similarly large Indian epic, signaling a shift toward global-scale filmmaking.

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Chopra Shoots Varanasi

Director S.S. Rajamouli released two photos showing Priyanka Chopra Jonas for his upcoming film Varanasi.
Rajamouli captioned the images “Grace when she smiles. Fire when she doesn’t. Mandakini… @PriyankaChopra #Varanasi.”
Chopra revealed she spent 14 months filming Varanasi and performed numerous slow-motion jumps.
The film stars Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran, includes music by Oscar-winning composer M.M. Keeravani, and is scheduled for release in April 2027.

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