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Rajamouli Says Varanasi Is Halfway Shot, Targets June 2026 Wrap

Industry estimates put the Mahesh BabuPriyanka Chopra Jonas epic near Rs 1,400 crore, with an IMAX theatrical release set for April 7, 2027.

Overview

  • SS Rajamouli confirmed in a Collider interview that roughly 50% of filming is complete and that principal photography is planned to finish by June 2026.
  • The director said post-production will be VFX-heavy after completing an elaborate Ramayana-inspired sequence that he called the most demanding so far.
  • He stated the film will be a single installment with a runtime under three hours, countering earlier two-part speculation.
  • Prithviraj Sukumaran portrays the main antagonist, Kumbha, shown as wheelchair-bound and technologically equipped, a performance Rajamouli praised.
  • Industry reports cite an estimated budget of about Rs 1,400 crore (around $150 million), with some coverage noting Prime Video’s Citadel Season 1 at roughly $300 million for scale.