India’s biggest director, S.S. Rajamouli, is bringing unprecedented international collaboration to his upcoming epic Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu. While industry buzz suggests discussions with Marvel Studios for a potential tie-up, the project has already locked several confirmed global partnerships that signal its massive scale.
Confirmed International Partnerships
Rajamouli has officially partnered with IMAX to shoot Varanasi in the 1.43:1 IMAX format, making it the first Indian film and the first non-English film globally to use this premium format. This Varanasi international collaboration with IMAX has been years in the making, with preliminary talks dating back to the Baahubali era.
On the VFX front, three major international studios—Cinesite (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Trixter (Predator: Badlands), and Assemblage Entertainment—will deliver visual effects for the film. Additionally, Rajamouli unveiled a state-of-the-art motion capture facility at Nagarjuna’s Annapurna Studios, developed in partnership with Hollywood’s Animatrik Film Design, whose credits include Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Key sequences of Varanasi have already been shot using this cutting-edge technology.
Marvel Studios Talks Remain Unconfirmed
According to unconfirmed industry reports, discussions are underway with Marvel Studios regarding a potential collaboration, which could bring even greater global visibility to the project. This is not the first time such talks have surfaced—earlier reports suggested discussions with Disney that did not materialize.
While these Marvel talks remain speculative, the confirmed partnerships already in place demonstrate Rajamouli’s commitment to creating a cinematic spectacle with genuine international scale. The project, estimated at ₹1,200-1,400 crore, is speculated to be expanding into a two-part theatrical event and will release in over 120 countries.
A Groundbreaking Moment for Indian Cinema
If any additional international studio partnerships are finalized, Varanasi would further cement its position as a landmark project that blends Rajamouli’s visionary storytelling with Hollywood-level production values. For now, the confirmed Varanasi international collaboration with IMAX and leading VFX studios has already set new benchmarks for Indian filmmaking on the global stage.