SS Rajamouli is releasing another film filled with mass excess. The Indian filmmaker, whose “RRR” was an international breakout in 2022, has shot his “dream project,” and it will be the biggest and costliest Indian film ever made.
I’m sure you’ve heard of it, “Varanasi” is the title, and the budget, according to Variety, is $150M+, which is immense when taking into account that “RRR” grossed $166M worldwide, with $130M of that total coming from India.
Furthermore, “RRR” was produced on a $72M budget due to its extensive VFX and massive action sequences, but “Varanasi” has more than double the budget. Reports have highlighted the extensive visual effects in the upcoming epic, not to mention its lengthy shooting schedule across more than seven countries.
Described as a “globe-trotting adventure,” the production traveled through India, the forests of Kenya, and is one of the few films to actually shoot in Antarctica. The cast includes Mahesh Babu, Chatrapathi Sekhar, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The film is set for a theatrical bow on April 7, 2027.