Varanasi’s Crazy Action Aims at New Oscars Stunt Award

SS Karthikeya, producer of Varanasi and son of filmmaker SS Rajamouli, has given fans the clearest hint yet about the scale of the film’s action. Speaking to Thyview, he described the set-pieces as “crazy” and insisted they will feel nothing like the stunt spectacles that defined RRR and Baahubali.

A different kind of action

Karthikeya’s promise is precise: the action is built to keep audiences hooked through every sequence. He called it “crazy” and “a completely different kind of action,” adding that viewers will be “on the edge of your seat in every sequence.”

For a filmmaker whose last two blockbusters turned action into global spectacle, that is a high bar but also a deliberate pivot.

The Oscars opportunity

The timing matters. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will introduce the Achievement in Stunt Design category at the 100th Academy Awards in 2028, honouring films released in 2027. Since Varanasi is scheduled for April 7, 2027, it lands squarely in the first eligibility window.

The new award will recognise the work of:

• stunt designers and coordinators
• stunt performers
• action choreographers
• other action and stunt specialists

What we know about Varanasi

Written by Vijayendra Prasad, Varanasi is Rajamouli’s first film as director after RRR. The first glimpse introduced Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, on a time-travelling mission for Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Kumbha, before realising Kumbha’s intentions may not be what they appear. Priyanka Chopra plays Mandakini, marking her return to Indian cinema after nearly eight years.

Mahabharata stays on hold

Karthikeya also confirmed there has been no movement on Rajamouli’s long-discussed Mahabharata. The director still feels he is “not ready,” and after 25 years of working with him, Karthikeya says Rajamouli has become increasingly patient with time.

Why this matters for Indian action cinema

Indian films have rarely lacked ambition in action; what they have lacked is industry-wide recognition for stunt craft. A dedicated Oscar category changes the conversation, giving physical stunt teams and action choreographers a shared global benchmark. If Varanasi delivers the edge-of-the-seat promise, it could put Indian action design in the first race for the new trophy.

Source: PINKVILLA

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#Indian Cinema#Mahesh Babu#Oscars 2028#Priyanka Chopra#SS Karthikeya#SS Rajamouli#Stunt Design#Varanasi