The ambitious cinematic endeavor 'Varanasi', helmed by director S.S. Rajamouli, has pushed its leading actors, Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, to new heights of performance and dedication. The production, which spans millennia and continents, demanded rigorous physical transformations and presented unique filming challenges, including navigating the wild terrains of Kenya's Maasai Mara. This film is poised to be a landmark in Indian cinema, blending intricate storytelling with groundbreaking visual and practical effects.
Mahesh Babu, who embodies the dual roles of Rudhra and the deity Rama, committed a full year to preparation. This included three months of intensive Kalari martial arts training, specifically aimed at cultivating the posture and demeanor befitting a character from ancient times. He remarked on the necessity of this rigorous regimen, stating that modern postures would not suit the historical accuracy required for his portrayal of Lord Rama. Beyond martial arts, Babu also engaged with a track and field team for several months to refine his running style, demonstrating his commitment to every detail of his character's physicality. The actor expressed immense satisfaction with the results, noting how the training profoundly altered his gait and overall presence.
Prithviraj Sukumaran's role as the primary antagonist, Kumbha, presented a distinct set of challenges. His character is confined to a wheelchair, with only facial movements available for expression. Sukumaran emphasized the practical nature of these effects, highlighting that the wheelchair and his performance within it were entirely real, not digitally enhanced. This constraint forced him to convey a vast range of emotions and intentions solely through his facial expressions, a task he described as both demanding and fascinating. He characterized Kumbha as a paradoxical figure: physically limited yet mentally boundless and dangerously cunning.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the film's production involved shooting sequences amidst the wildebeest migration in Kenya's Maasai Mara. This undertaking required substantial cooperation from the Kenyan government, granting the filmmakers unprecedented access to protected wildlife areas. Priyanka Chopra Jonas described the experience as both intimidating and exhilarating, underscoring the rare privilege of working directly with wild animals in their natural habitat. The production schedule was meticulously coordinated around the animals' movements, often requiring the crew to work tirelessly. Chopra Jonas vividly recalled shooting scenes where dialogue had to be delivered precisely as elephant families passed by, illustrating the dynamic and unpredictable nature of filming in such an environment.
Mahesh Babu recounted a particularly surreal first day of filming, where he and his co-stars found themselves alone amidst the wildebeest after their transport departed. Director Rajamouli, observing from a distance, enthusiastically directed them via walkie-talkie as the ground literally shook from the thundering herd. Both actors acknowledged the extraordinary nature of their experience, believing few others in the industry would have undertaken such a feat. Rajamouli himself expressed a long-held desire to film in Africa's wilderness, describing the profound sense of perspective gained when immersed in such a vast and powerful landscape. Despite the film's heavy reliance on visual effects, Rajamouli insisted on maximizing practical elements wherever feasible, ensuring a blend of authentic interactions and cutting-edge CGI, a philosophy that deeply resonated with Chopra Jonas.
For Priyanka Chopra Jonas, 'Varanasi' signifies a significant return to Indian cinema after a period focused on Hollywood. Initially apprehensive about the Telugu language barrier, her concerns were alleviated during a pivotal meeting with Rajamouli. He assured her that the film would only feature her best performance, a promise that deeply impacted her. She views this project as the ultimate way to re-engage with Indian cinema, aligning with a director whose vision she compares to global cinematic titans like Spielberg, Nolan, and Fincher. The film's title itself, 'Varanasi', carries immense cultural and religious weight, a fact Rajamouli and the cast acknowledge and embrace. Rajamouli, moved to tears during the final mixing when the title appeared, felt the name perfectly encapsulated the film's essence, which draws inspiration from and incorporates elements of the Indian epic 'Ramayana'. The film is scheduled for a worldwide release on April 7, 2027.