Priyanka Chopra on 'Varanasi', SS Rajamouli and the One Ask She Had Before Signing Mahesh Babu-Starrer

Having been in development for nearly three years, S.S. Rajamouli’s Varanasi is already being hailed as his magnum opus. In addition to being one of the most expensive Indian films in history (with a whopping budget of ₹1,300 crore), the film will also be Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ comeback to Indian cinema after six years.

Having primarily focused on various Hollywood projects in recent years—such as Baywatch (2017), Love Again (2023), and Citadel (2025)—the actor mentioned in a recent interview that there was one thing she missed the most about working in Indian films: dance.

Talking about a conversation with Rajamouli before accepting the role of Mandakini, she told CinemaBlend, "I was like, ‘I have one request. Can you make me dance? Please? Because I haven’t danced for so long.’”

And dance she did. In conversation with co-star Mahesh Babu, she joked, "I should not have asked, because we have been dancing. There’s a lot.” Mahesh Babu, who will play the role of Rudhra, revealed that the two have already shot for a song together, hinting that the track came about as a result of her request. 

Although the preparation for her dance sequences has been gruelling, Chopra Jonas has never shied away from a challenge. In light of the roaring success and virality of Rajamouli’s Oscar-winning track, Naatu Naatu, it is expected that Varanasi will also be musically rich, with powerful choreography. 

Following the global success of RRR (2022), the film has been highly anticipated among fans, largely as a result of the sheer scale of the production. It is said to be the first Indian film, as well as the first non-English film, to be shot in a 1.43:1 IMAX format.

Varanasi has also generated significant interest among audiences because of its powerhouse star-cast, which also includes Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha. While Chopra Jonas has recently begun shooting for the film in Hyderabad, details about the production remain under wraps. Varanasi is set to release on April 7, 2027.