SS Rajamouli Creates Miniature Varanasi City for New Film The makers of S.S. Rajamouli’s upcoming film Varanasi have unveiled a series of images showcasing the intricate miniature recreation of the city, which serves as the film’s primary setting. The project, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, features detailed replicas of Varanasi’s iconic ghats, temples, and bustling lanes, capturing the city’s cultural and spiritual essence. The visuals, shared on social media, highlight the effort to authentically represent the historic city, with one image showing a cameraman filming the set’s miniature temples and streets. Directed by Rajamouli, the film is set to premiere on April 7, 2027. The teaser was first unveiled at a grand event in Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, on November 15 last year, where the title was officially announced. Originally titled Globe Trotter, the film’s name was changed to reflect its focus on the city of Varanasi. The story follows Mahesh Babu’s character, Rudhra, described as a globetrotter and timetrotter, and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s character, Kumbh, as the film explores themes of time and geography. The production began in April 2025, with the film spanning multiple locations, including Kenya, Andhra Pradesh’s Borra Caves, and Antarctica. This ambitious project marks Rajamouli’s first collaboration with Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Priyanka’s return to Indian cinema after a hiatus since The Sky is Pink (2019) adds significance to the film, which also reunites her with actor Farhan Akhtar. The miniature set’s creation underscores the film’s commitment to visual storytelling, blending historical authenticity with cinematic innovation.#priyanka_chopra #prithviraj_sukumaran #ss_rajamouli #varanasi #mahesh_babu
S.S. Rajamouli's Varanasi: A Global Spectacle in the Making A Rotten Tomatoes intern’s journey across the globe to cover the production of S.S. Rajamouli’s upcoming film, Varanasi, offered a front-row seat to the director’s ambitious vision. The trip, spanning over 8,700 miles and 20 hours of travel, culminated in Hyderabad, India, where the “Globetrotter Announcement Event” drew thousands of fans and global viewers. The event, held at Ramoji Film City, was designed like a living city, featuring a massive 100-by-132-foot LED screen and drone cameras capturing the crowd’s enthusiastic chants of “Jai Babu!” for Mahesh Babu, the film’s star. The atmosphere mirrored a cultural phenomenon, with cast members like Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran offering glimpses into the film’s epic scale. The official title, Varanasi, was revealed during the event, signaling Rajamouli’s next major project. The film’s plot remains shrouded in mystery, but details suggest a sweeping narrative spanning thousands of years, from 7200 BCE to 2071. It weaves together global catastrophes, asteroid threats, and a race to save humanity, traveling across continents like Antarctica, Africa, and India. The story blends time travel, mythology, and action, with scenes like a protagonist riding a bull and wielding a trident hinting at its bold, unpredictable nature. Rajamouli’s ambition to push Indian cinema further is evident, following the success of RRR, which reshaped global perceptions of Indian films. Varanasi aims to elevate the medium even more, with Rajamouli emphasizing the goal of taking Indian cinema to an international stage. The film’s production team includes Oscar-winning composer M. M. Keeravani, whose work on RRR highlighted the role of music in Indian storytelling.#prithviraj_sukumaran #priyanka_chopra_jonas #ss_rajamouli #varanasi #ramoji_film_city
A mobile phone game inspired by the Malayalam movie ‘Vilayath Budha’ A mobile phone game inspired by the Malayalam movie ‘Vilayath Budha’ has made waves as it marks a significant milestone in the intersection of film and gaming. The open-world mobile game, titled Vilayath Budha: The Sandalwood Survival, features actor Prithviraj Sukumaran and was not developed as part of the film’s promotional efforts. The game’s creators, Offline Human Studios, have secured intellectual property consent to use assets from the film, including Prithviraj’s likeness. Released in February 2026, the game is credited as India’s first movie-inspired open-world mobile game and the first collaboration between a production house, Urvasi Theatres, and a gaming company. The project also stands out for featuring Prithviraj, a South Indian actor known for his pan-India appeal, in a game of this scale. The Malayalam film Vilayath Budha, released in 2025, is based on the novel of the same name by GR Indugopan. It follows the story of Double Mohanan, a sandalwood smuggler, his mentor Bhaskaran Master, and the sacred sandalwood tree, Vilayath Budha. Prithviraj portrays Mohanan in the film. Karthik Suresh, a co-founder of Offline Human Studios, emphasized that the game was not a promotional tool for the film. “There is a perception that this is a promotion for the film. It is not,” he said. The game was developed independently, with its early access launch in early February 2026, months after the film’s November 2025 release. The team had been working on the project for over six months, aiming to create an immersive experience that leverages the film’s narrative and setting.#vilayath_budha #prithviraj_sukumaran #offline_human_studios #urvasi_theatres #marayoor
