SS Rajamouli’s ambitious globe-trotting adventure Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra, is progressing exactly as planned. According to the latest industry buzz, the film has already completed almost its entire principal shooting schedule, thanks to Rajamouli‘s meticulous planning.
The next schedule is set to begin next week at Ramoji Film City (RFC), where the team will shoot the remaining portions. If everything goes according to schedule, the entire shoot is expected to wrap up by October, giving the makers nearly six months for post-production, VFX, background score, and promotions.
Such a lengthy post-production window is hardly surprising, considering the film’s scale and Rajamouli’s reputation for polishing every technical aspect before release.
Oscar-winning composer M.M. Keeravaani has already begun work on the background score, ensuring the project remains firmly on track for its planned April 7, 2027, release. Completing principal photography this far ahead of release is a major achievement for a film of this scale and reflects the meticulous planning behind the production.
However, the bigger challenge may not be production. It could be the release window.
Varanasi is currently sandwiched between two major Hollywood IMAX releases: Godzilla x Kong: Supernova on March 26 and Panic Carefully on April 9. With IMAX screens limited, especially in North America and other key overseas markets, securing a strong premium-screen footprint could become difficult if both Hollywood films perform well.
As of now, there is no indication that Rajamouli plans to postpone the film. Production is progressing smoothly, and April 7 remains the target release date. However, Rajamouli has never treated release dates as untouchable. Most of his films, including RRR, were delayed when he believed it would maximize their theatrical potential.
If Rajamouli concludes that an April 7 release would significantly restrict Varanasi’s global reach, he is unlikely to hesitate to postpone it. For now, the date remains unchanged, but the crowded IMAX calendar could eventually force a crucial decision.
