When SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi teaser dropped, it left audiences stunned with its scale and visuals. The quality was so high that a section of viewers began wondering if the teaser had been created using generative AI. Since Rajamouli is known for constantly pushing technological boundaries, these doubts spread quickly on social media.
Rajamouli has now addressed these claims head on in an international interview. He firmly rejected the idea that the teaser was AI generated and said such comments undermine the hard work of the artists involved. According to him, work on the teaser began in October and continued relentlessly until its release. He revealed that rendering even a single frame took close to 20 hours. This highlights the level of human effort behind the visuals. Rajamouli stressed that what audiences see on screen is the result of dedication, skill, and sleepless nights by real artists, not artificial shortcuts.
He also pointed out that while AI can speed up certain processes, it cannot replace the emotional depth and precision that human artists bring. The detailing seen in the icy Antarctica visuals and the mythological sequences inspired by the Ramayana is a direct outcome of that human touch. This is also why the film is being designed for the IMAX format, where every detail matters.
In Varanasi, Mahesh Babu plays a powerful character named Rudra, and Rajamouli is building a completely new visual world around him. With a massive budget of nearly Rs. 1300 crore, the director insists that every frame must meet the highest standards. That is why even a three minute teaser demanded such intense effort and supervision.
Rajamouli made it clear that technology is only a tool. The soul of cinema still comes from people. With actors like Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran also on board, the film’s scale has expanded further.
Rajamouli’s statement comes across as a slap to the naysayers. It effectively shuts down the negativity surrounding Varanasi and stands as a clear reminder that behind every breathtaking visual lies real human effort, not AI.
