Acclaimed “RRR” filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli has confirmed that his upcoming film “Varanasi” will follow in the footsteps of Christopher Nolan and be entirely shot in IMAX.
“Varanasi” will mark only the second major feature film to be shot completely in the format following Nolan’s “The Odyssey” last month. It’s also the first non-English language film to be shot in 1.43:1 IMAX format (it is in the Telugu language).
Speaking with European magazine Tsounami (via THR India), Rajamouli shared that all large-scale IMAX action sequences from the movie have already been filmed – around 80% of the movie – with only some smaller sequences between them left to be shot.
Post-production on those completed sequences is already well underway: “Every completed sequence is immediately edited and sent to the visual effects team, allowing different departments to work in parallel and keep the production on schedule.”
The story follows the adventures of Rudhra (Babu) as the city of Varanasi in India faces the impending arrival of an asteroid. The film is said to draw on the “structure and emotional tone of classic adventure cinema”.
Mahesh Babu, Chatrapathi Sekhar, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas star in the film, which is said to have a budget of $150 million – easily making it the biggest and most expensive Indian film ever made.
Much of that expense ties to the extensive visual effects, lengthy shoot spanning multiple locations around India, the Amboseli National Park in Kenya and the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica.
Speculation was the film would be released in two parts, but Rajamouli has confirmed that he will release it as a single movie clocking in at three hours.
“Varanasi” arrives in cinemas worldwide on April 7th 2027.
