Priyanka Chopra is back, and she’s making a blockbuster-sized splash! The global superstar recently opened up about her long-awaited return to Indian cinema during a lively chat with Jimmy Fallon on ‘The Tonight Show’ last Friday. And fans couldn’t be more thrilled.
After spending years dazzling audiences worldwide, Priyanka revealed she is stepping back into the Indian film scene with none other than the visionary director SS Rajamouli. “I haven’t done an Indian movie in 6-7 years. I am now doing a movie called ‘Varanasi’, and it is directed by SS Rajamouli, who is one of India’s most amazing and talented directors,” Priyanka told Fallon.
Also Read: Priyanka Chopra made an unusual request to SS Rajamouli for ‘Varanasi’; he agreed and pulled Mahesh Babu into it
She didn’t stop there. “It’s gonna be an adventure, I am very excited about it. We have shot it in IMAX format and we have been filming it for 14 months,” she added.
Star-studded lineup of ‘Varanasi’
‘Varanasi’ is shaping up to be nothing short of spectacular. Alongside Priyanka, the film stars Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, a daring character first revealed by Rajamouli last year riding an ox and wielding a trishul. Priyanka steps into the role of Mandakini, while Prithviraj Sukumaran rounds out the main cast.
‘Varanasi’ is a production of Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business, with massive budget of ₹1,000-1,300 crore, making it one of the most expensive films ever in India. Music is composed by MM Keeravani, cinematography by PS Vinod, and the visual effects are handled by V Srinivas Mohan.
The film has been shot extensively across Hyderabad, Odisha, and even Kenya. Remarkably, it is the first Indian film, and the first non-English language film, to be shot in the 1.43:1 IMAX format.
Rajamouli has been nurturing this idea for over a decade. Discussions with Mahesh Babu first started back in 2010. But the project only came together after the smashing success of ‘RRR’ (2022). The film formally launched with a puja in January 2025, and principal photography began the very next month.
Priyanka’s global appeal
While fans eagerly await ‘Varanasi’, Priyanka hasn’t been idle. She recently appeared in ‘The Bluff’, an action-packed thriller set in Cayman Islands. She starred alongside Karl Urban where she performed intense sword and gun sequences. The film premiered on Prime Video on February 25.
With ‘Varanasi’, Priyanka is taking on an adventure to combine heart-stopping action, stunning visuals, signature grandeur of SS Rajamouli. The film is ready for release on 7 April 2027, perfectly timed with festival of Ugadi.