Priyanka Chopra is all set to make her comeback to Indian cinema with SS Rajamouli's Varanasi. The film, also starring Mahesh Babu, is all set to release in 2027. While we already know that the film will be a magnum opus, a recent interview confirmed the budget of Varanasi.
Priyanka Chopra reveals the massive budget of VaranasiA report by Variety reveals that SS Rajamouli's Varanasi was made on a budget of $150 million USD (approximately Rs 1361 crore), making it the most expensive Indian film ever produced.
The film’s massive budget is primarily attributed to its heavy use of visual effects and an unusually long production timeline. Shot across more than seven countries, the film takes audiences from India to Kenya’s forests, and even includes sequences filmed in Antarctica — a rare feat in Indian cinema.
To give context, SS Rajamouli’s last release, RRR's budget shot up to $72 million (Rs 650 crore approx) due to its extensive VFX. Which is half of Varanasi.
Credit: Sri Durga Arts
Pushpa: The Rule, Allu Arjun's hit film was made at an approx. budget of $58 million (approx 525 crores), as per a report by Forbes.
To put things further in perspective, Ranveer Singh's Dhurandharand Dhurandhar 2 have reportedly been made on a budget of Rs 400-600 crore.
Priyanka Chopra on her ultimatum to join Varanasi castIn the same interview with Variety, Priyanka revealed that she placed one ultimatum to star in Varanasi. She said, “I was like, ‘Listen, I’m coming back to Indian movies. I have to do a dance song. Like, you have to make me dance.’ I know I’m gonna be doing it, but we haven’t shot it yet. OK, that’s one of the last things, which I’m really looking forward to. But we already did do one where choreography was crazy. It’s so intricate.”
About VaranasiHelmed by SS Rajamouli, Varanasi will be his first big project after RRR, which was a complete success. The film was also mark PeeCee's return to Indian cinema after a gap of 6 years and her first Telugu film in almost a decade. Alongside Chopra and Mahesh Babu, the film also stars R Madhavan, Prakash Raj, and others in pivotal roles.
Lead and social image credits: Sri Durga Arts, Instagram/ priyankachopra
