SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus Varanasi is on the move. The Georgia schedule of the Mahesh Babu starrer is nearly wrapped, and the entire unit is set to fly to Antarctica to commence what will be one of the most extraordinary filming sequences in Indian cinema history. With roughly 70% of the shoot set to be completed by the time the Antarctica leg concludes, Rajamouli’s global adventure is racing towards the finish line.
What Is the Latest Shoot Update for Varanasi?
The Varanasi team has been filming in Georgia, wrapping an intensive schedule of high-octane action sequences involving Mahesh Babu and the film’s antagonist, played by Prithviraj Sukumaran. Director Rajamouli and cinematographer PS Vinod had previously scouted these locations to ensure the rugged Georgian terrain complements the film’s epic spiritual-action aesthetic. The 12-day Georgia schedule, which focused on some of the most expensive stunt blocks ever mounted in Indian cinema, is now nearing completion.
With the Georgia schedule concluding, the full unit is set to depart for Antarctica, where Varanasi will make history as the first Indian film ever shot on the frozen continent, and only the fourth feature film globally to have done so. Sequences are planned at the Ross Ice Shelf, one of the most remote filming locations attempted by any production in the world.
Why Is the Antarctica Schedule a Historic Moment for Indian Cinema?
Only three feature films worldwide have previously shot scenes in Antarctica: South of Sanity (2012), The Odyssey (2016), and Virus (1980). Varanasi joins that exclusive list, and does so with the full weight of a Rs. 1,300 crore production behind it. Rajamouli’s decision to physically shoot on the continent rather than recreate the environment through VFX underlines the visual ambition the filmmaker has brought to every project in his career.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who plays the lead female role of Mandakini, has publicly confirmed her involvement in the Antarctica shoot, making her participation in one of Indian cinema’s most audacious location sequences official.
Thank you my friend 🙏🏽 🏴☠️
See you soon in Antarctica. ⭐️ @urstrulyMahesh https://t.co/HpBfRPbMEg— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) March 1, 2026
How Much of Varanasi Has Been Shot?
With the Georgia schedule wrapping and the Antarctica leg about to begin, approximately 70% of the film’s total production is expected to be complete once the team returns from the frozen south. The film’s production journey has already taken it through Odisha’s Koraput district, Kenya (including Masai Mara, Naivasha, Samburu, and Amboseli), and extensive sets in Hyderabad, in addition to the Georgia and Antarctica schedules. The team is targeting a complete wrap by mid-2026, leaving the second half of the year free for the enormous VFX and post-production work the film demands.
What Is Varanasi About?
Varanasi follows Rudhra, played by Mahesh Babu, as the ancient city of Varanasi faces the catastrophic threat of an incoming asteroid. The story unfolds across multiple timelines and continents, drawing from Indian mythology and weaving in elements of globe-trotting adventure. Rajamouli co-wrote the screenplay with his father V. Vijayendra Prasad and SS Kanchi, the same trio behind the RRR and Baahubali scripts.
The cast is led by Mahesh Babu alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran, with the film produced under Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business. With a budget north of Rs. 1,300 crore, Varanasi is shaping up to be the most expensive Indian film ever made, surpassing the budgets of Baahubali 2 and RRR.
When Is Varanasi Releasing in Theatres?
Varanasi is targeting a grand worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027. The film will release in Telugu along with dubbed versions across major Indian languages and select international markets. Distribution is being handled globally through Warner Bros., giving Varanasi one of the widest international release frameworks ever assembled for an Indian production.