Exclusive | Prithviraj Sukumaran on Working With SS Rajamouli on 'Varanasi': '20 Minute Lunch Breaks,' Early Morning Schedules and More

Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, who is currently shooting for SS Rajamouli's Varanasi, opened up about learning from the filmmaker's work ethic while on set and the energy he brings to the shoot, calling him “the hardest-working director he has worked with.”

In a conversation with THR India, the actor spoke about watching Rajamouli direct, explaining that the filmmaker approaches every day of shooting with the enthusiasm of someone making their first project. "He comes across as one of those young filmmakers who's finally gotten to make his first film," said Prithviraj.

On Rajamouli's Passion For His Work

He elaborated, "For someone who does not know, he seems like a new director who had to wait 20 to 30 years to make his first film, and now has finally gotten the opportunity to make a film that he really wanted to make. That is the vibe he gives you."

For the actor, that attitude is the biggest lesson from working with Rajamouli."The way he approaches his craft and the opportunities in front of him; everything you need to learn from him is right there,” he said.

Prithviraj also shared his admiration for how the director's passion shows through in his work ethic on set, noting, "I have not worked with a harder-working filmmaker."

Recalling a typical day on the film’s set, he explained how Rajamouli consistently arrives on set well before the first shot is scheduled. "For the first shot at 7 am, by the time Mahesh [Babu], Priyanka [Chopra Jonas] and I reach there, he would have set up the Jimmy Jib (camera crane), done 12 rehearsals with his assistants, corrected everything, and be waiting for the actors."

When Prithviraj asked him what time he had arrived, Rajamouli told him he got there at 5:15 am! "I asked him if he wanted me to come earlier, but he asked me to stick to the schedule."

Rajamouli is also the last one to leave the set every day, the actor observed. Lunch breaks on the set of Varanasi, Prithviraj noted with a laugh, are just about 20 minutes.

Despite the scale of the project and the expectations that come with his previous projects, Prithviraj emphasises that Rajamouli appears unaffected by his own reputation while working. "I don't think he even realises what he carries behind him," he said. "And that is an amazing thing to learn from him."

The actor added that he has several shoot schedules left for Varanasi, and is shortly returning to the film's sets, and continues to look forward to spending time on set with the filmmaker. 

The film, which also stars Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, is a Telugu-language epic action-drama. Currently under production, the film is scheduled to release on April 7, 2027, for an Ugadi release.

Watch our full interview with the actor on The Hollywood Reporter India's YouTube channel later today