S. S. Rajamouli’s ambitious globe-trotting adventure Varanasi has reached a major production milestone. The ace filmmaker, known for his meticulous planning and lengthy shooting schedules for Baahubali and RRR, has confirmed that the principal photography of the Mahesh Babu starrer is now complete.
Production Milestones
Speaking about the film’s progress, Rajamouli revealed that all the major action blocks and large-scale sequences requiring extensive visual effects have been successfully filmed. This includes spectacular sequences shot across exotic international locations, making Varanasi one of the most ambitious Indian productions in recent years.
The film’s production took the team to Kenya’s Masai Mara, Naivasha, Samburu, and Amboseli regions. In a historic first for Indian cinema, Varanasi also became the first Indian film—and only the fourth feature film in history—to shoot on location in Antarctica, with key sequences filmed at the Ross Ice Shelf. These globe-trotting schedules showcase the scale and vision Rajamouli has brought to this project.
Final Schedule Ahead
With principal photography wrapped, only a few interconnecting scenes remain to be filmed. According to the director, these smaller linking sequences are currently being completed, and if everything proceeds as planned, the entire shoot should be wrapped up by October 2026.
Once filming concludes, the team will shift focus to the film’s extensive post-production work, which is expected to be a lengthy process given the visual effects-heavy nature of the project. Varanasi stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran in lead roles and is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027.