Filmmaker SS Rajamouli has revealed a new first-look still of Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini from the much-anticipated globe-trotting epic "Varanasi", which marks her return to Indian cinema after a long hiatus. The image was released on the occasion of her 44th birthday. The edgy, gothic-inspired warrior look features a dark, structured corset top with high-neck detailing.
In their feature on Chopra's character, Entertainment Weekly has described her as someone who finds herself positioned dynamically between the film's two central male forces: the protagonist Rudhra (played by Mahesh Babu) and the primary antagonist Kumbha (played by Prithviraj Sukumaran).
Rajamouli has envisioned the film as a massive action-adventure epic spanning thousands of years, moving seamlessly from ancient civilisations to the present day across multiple continents. Select portions of the movie are captured in IMAX's expanded aspect ratios — the visually intensive action sequences and epic scenes will utilise the maximum 1.43:1 aspect ratio, making it the first non-English and first Indian film in history to do so.
While the spectacular sequences (such as the Ramayana portions) are shot for the 1.43:1 ratio, other parts of the movie will be in the standard 1.90:1 IMAX flat format and traditional CinemaScope. The film boasts a staggering, record-breaking budget rumoured to be around Rs 1,300 crore. "Varanasi" is currently slated to hit global theatres on April 7, 2027.
Rajamouli recently confirmed that the production has completed all major, large-scale action sequences. The remaining schedule is focused entirely on filming the smaller talkie portions, songs, and crucial interconnecting scenes that bind the time-travel narrative together.
