Varanasi Is 5-6 Times Bigger Than RRR, Rajamouli Reveals

SS Rajamouli has attached a huge scale marker to his next film: the Mahesh Babu action-adventure Varanasi will be five to six times bigger than RRR, he confirmed at the 50th São Paulo International Film Festival in Brazil.

Bigger canvas, shorter schedule

Speaking at the festival, Rajamouli said the ambitious project was around five to six times bigger than RRR in every aspect. He also credited extensive planning and preparation for helping him finish sooner, even on a larger production.

“We shot RRR in 315 days and Varanasi, despite being bigger, in 275 days, saving 40 days.”

That 40-day saving matters because scale usually adds time, not removes it. Rajamouli’s explanation is that more paperwork before filming let his team move faster when the cameras rolled.

For Rajamouli, the shift is also a statement about method. A director known for enormous sets and long schedules is now leading with planning discipline, which suggests the scale of Varanasi was built as much in pre-production as on set.

What Varanasi is about

The film unfolds during a global crisis, with an asteroid named Shambhavi threatening the city of Varanasi. Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, a rugged archaeologist and explorer recruited to recover an ancient cosmic artefact. Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Mandakini, a historian and skilled marksman, while Prithviraj Sukumaran is Kumbha, a technologically advanced antagonist.

Their mission moves across the jungles of Africa, the icy landscapes of Antarctica and locations in Europe. The filmmakers say the key to preventing a future catastrophe lies hidden in the mythical past of Varanasi.

Why the scale reveal matters

RRR became a global conversation starter for Indian cinema, so comparing Varanasi directly to it raises the stakes for audiences and the industry. A film that is five to six times bigger is not just a sequel-scale promise; it is a signal about visual effects, action design and production ambition.

For fans who track Rajamouli’s craft, the comparison gives a concrete way to benchmark the new film. RRR’s action set pieces travelled far beyond the Telugu market, so a bigger Varanasi could be positioned as the next pan-India and global spectacle.

The casting also pushes the film’s reach. Priyanka Chopra Jonas brings international visibility, Prithviraj adds Malayalam star power, and Mahesh Babu anchors the Telugu and pan-India audience.

The production details released so far give a clear snapshot:

• Director: SS Rajamouli
• Lead: Mahesh Babu
• Also starring: Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran
• Release date: April 7, 2027
• Shoot schedule: 275 days, against RRR’s 315

Mahesh Babu has reportedly completed his portions. The makers also released behind-the-scenes pictures featuring Prithviraj Sukumaran to mark the actor’s 44th birthday.

The next big checkpoint is the long marketing runway to 2027. With Rajamouli’s scale promise now public, every reveal will be measured against an even bigger RRR.

Source: PINKVILLA

■

#Indian Cinema#Mahesh Babu#Prithviraj Sukumaran#Priyanka Chopra Jonas#RRR#SS Rajamouli#Telugu cinema#Varanasi