5 Things We Learned On The Set Of Varanasi, The Action Epic From Rrr Director

Sri Durga Arts

Anyone who's been successful this business agelong capable tin show you each astir nan emblematic Hollywood group sojourn experience, a carefully-curated circuit done definite soundstages successful which talent connection up rehearsed soundbites — which whitethorn aliases whitethorn not springiness an meticulous belief of nan movie erstwhile it's each said and done. No more, nary less. It's typically not arsenic luxurious aliases arsenic prestigious arsenic it whitethorn look from afar, aliases astatine slightest alternatively much mundane than studios would for illustration fans to think. There's ever nan thrill of watching movie magic travel together from a behind-the-scenes perspective, of course, but it's difficult to disregard nan shameless trading perspective and manufactured enthusiasm down it all. That's nan movie manufacture for you, folks!

Every now and then, however, comes a genuinely once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that shows you really it's done. In November of 2025, /Film was 1 of nan exclusive fewer outlets invited to Hyderabad, India, to sojourn nan group of "Varanasi," nan latest big-budget behemoth from "RRR" mastermind S.S. Rajamouli. With small much than a proof-of-concept trailer, nan Tollywood blockbuster quickly made waves internationally and reminded galore of america that there's a wider world of cinema retired there, acold beyond nan limits and imagination of Western audiences.

In summation to attending that title uncover arena and interviewing nan main imaginative squad — including Rajamouli and stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran — we were besides capable to research nan sprawling outdoor group that will service arsenic nan main mounting and location guidelines of accumulation connected "Varanasi." To opportunity that this is dissimilar thing that Hollywood has to connection is some meticulous and wildly inadequate. Hopefully, nan pursuing observations and takeaways will beryllium capable to overgarment a image of what's successful shop for moviegoers erstwhile "Varanasi" yet arrives successful 2027.

Jeremy Mathai

Move over, Chris Nolan, because S.S. Rajamouli mightiness already person you beat. As overmuch arsenic nan "Oppenheimer" and "The Odyssey" head has turned his fastidious attraction to item into an full marque unto himself, nan early impressions from "Varanasi" are convincing capable to time off beautiful overmuch everyone other successful nan dust. Upon arriving astatine nan set, we were instantly confronted by nan sheer size and standard of nan accumulation — totaling 9 acres, requiring a unit of complete 350, and costing millions of US dollars. Modeled extensively connected nan real-life historical Indian metropolis of Varanasi, nan monolithic group is filled pinch dozens of opinionated buildings, full roadways, and moreover marketplaces, each dressed up and intricately designed to lucifer their real-world counterparts.

According to our guide, accumulation designer Mohan Bingi, Rajamouli maintained a hands-on attack to almost each facet of nan set, personally signing disconnected connected countless specifications and adhering to unthinkable levels of fidelity. In summation to respective location-scouting trips to nan ineffable city, nan imaginative squad utilized drones and radar exertion to representation nan full layout. The results speak for themselves, from weathered steps to worn-down building exteriors to murals created by section artists. To those wondering why not simply sprout on-location: this was really considered... but nan logistics of controlling crowds and different challenges quickly made it impractical.

In a testament to nan filmmaking ratio Rajamouli is bringing to "Varanasi" and its eager shoot, we were soon ushered into a second-story alcove that doubles arsenic Rajamouli's on-set editing bay. Incredibly enough, nan outdoor group is designed to beryllium somewhat movable to let adjustments and reshoots arsenic needed. This was only nan opening of nan surprises successful shop for us.

Jeremy Mathai

As overmuch arsenic stars for illustration to talk astir nan "immersive" sets they're privileged capable to enactment successful connected immoderate fixed blockbuster, it appears that "Varanasi" is astir to group a full caller modular successful that regard. Simply stepping done nan sandy streets and among nan crumbling monuments connected a hot, steamy time was capable to carrier america into this world wholly — and that's without immoderate of nan much extended group dressings that are judge to beryllium added during nan existent shoot. Every temple aliases unassuming location turns retired to beryllium a wealth trove afloat of accumulation creation and costuming, galore of which whitethorn not moreover yet beryllium successful attraction during immoderate fixed scene. While the "Avatar"-sized imagery successful nan trailer footage teases nan grandeur and larger-than-life reside of nan upcoming action epic, S.S. Rajamouli is sparing nary disbursal successful capturing nan verisimilitude of nan tiniest, astir intricate specifications he can.

That extends to immoderate of nan cooler surprises hidden passim this set, arsenic well. For conscionable 1 example, a temple lurches successful nan main quadrate astatine an unusually tilted angle. When asked astir this, respective unit members eagerly regaled america pinch stories astir nan Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple, a real-life Hindu temple successful nan metropolis that bears nan aforesaid slant, down to nan nonstop degree. Located correct by the Ganges River, which snakes done nan bosom of Varanasi, nan group is built to accommodate nan floodwaters that will beryllium unleashed during filming and extends respective feet beneath crushed level. 

On nan time of our visit, this beatified stream is thing much than a dusty canal of gravel and sand. It's not difficult to ideate this scenery transforming into a bustling metropolis teeming pinch life.

Jeremy Mathai

How galore group are capable to opportunity that they received higher privilege attraction connected a movie group than anyone astatine nan apical of nan telephone sheet? That's technically what happened here, fixed that nary of nan trio of Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Telegu heartthrob Mahesh Babu, aliases Malayali character Prithviraj Sukumaran had moreover group ft connected nan group of "Varanasi" earlier our group of journalists did. That's beautiful overmuch wherever immoderate bragging authorities statesman and end, of course, particularly since nan 3 leads were engaged shooting connected location successful nan African safari and bumping elbows pinch each sorts of wildlife. According to a caller tweet, accumulation will soon move to Antarctica, further confirming this sprout arsenic a existent globetrotting event.

Still, this represented an absorbing twist connected nan accustomed contented of interviewing formed members aft nan fact. No filming was scheduled connected nan time of our visit, which gave america free rein to research nan ins and outs of each quadrant of nan set. On nan agleam side, this freed up respective cardinal members of nan below-the-line unit to locomotion pinch america and supply moving commentary connected nan astir infinitesimal aspects successful beforehand of us. Of peculiar interest, a portion of nan group was reused from a sequence in "RRR" in which Ram (Ram Charan) is forced to publically flog his champion bud Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao, Jr.) connected a crowded street. On nan different hand, however, it was up to america journalists later that time to capable successful nan film's main trio of stars connected what they had to look guardant to erstwhile they yet arrived connected set, which has surely happened by nan clip of publishing.

Jeremy Mathai

What was astir striking astir visiting nan "Varanasi" group wasn't needfully nan immaculate accumulation and group creation aliases nan magnitude of backbreaking craftsmanship that intelligibly went into bringing this metropolis to life — it was everything surrounding this walled-off small world of ancient Indian architecture. As easy arsenic it was to look astir and get mislaid (quite literally, mind you) amid nan alleyways and broadside streets, 1 peculiar area of nan group revealed a mounting root of interest and vexation for nan crew. In nan image above, you tin spot a gorgeously rendered archway and different buildings giving measurement to a jarring sight: a modern-day skyscraper nether construction, uncomfortably adjacent to nan set.

Jeremy Mathai

This is conscionable a sensation of nan wide situation, pinch dozens much already popping up to nan correct of this viewpoint and posing a awesome threat to nan information of filming connected "Varanasi." Only six months prior, nan group stood successful an isolated location pinch perfectly thing other of liking wrong miles. But Hyderabad is simply a metropolis connected nan rise, which intends each disposable inch of existent property is up for grabs. S.S. Rajamouli already had to woody pinch information snafus during nan title uncover and trailer arena days earlier, pinch tech rehearsals interrupted by fans equipped pinch drones trying to drawback a glimpse of nan footage earlier it was officially revealed. With dozens of skyscrapers offering tantalizing vantage points and nary expertise to conception walls to trim disconnected prying eyes, "Varanasi" is doomed to a Marvel Cinematic Universe-like script of leaked group videos connected nan internet.

Though not precisely a deal-breaker, it's conscionable different headache for Rajamouli and his imaginative team.

Jeremy Mathai

The astir fascinating tidbit of all, however, was hiding successful plain show each along. At first blush, it's clear that this main shooting location connected "Varanasi" tells a very peculiar tale. Every faded mural, thoroughfare vendor mockup, pavilion, awning, and attention-grabbing shop motion is 1 portion of a larger canvas, coming together into a full that captures a snapshot of Varanasi astatine a circumstantial infinitesimal successful time. But, arsenic we were told, this won't beryllium nan only glimpse of this metropolis we get passim nan action blockbuster. No, a communicative arsenic all-encompassing arsenic this 1 promises to jump from era to era — and this group will jump on pinch it, truthful to speak.

Not only is this portion of Varanasi metropolis meant arsenic a cardinal hub of production, built to guidelines up to 2-3 years, but it's besides accessible capable for nan unit to return for reshoots astatine immoderate fixed constituent successful production, pinch small much than a week aliases two's notice, impressively enough. That will surely travel successful handy, considering this group will big some present-day scenes and sequences from nan distant past. That required designing nan group pinch this successful mind, making it nimble capable to beryllium wholly redressed depending connected nan story's nonstop mounting connected immoderate fixed time of filming. "Varanasi" is confirmed to incorporated a time-travel element, as Priyanka Chopra Jonas explained successful an question and reply pinch /Film, along pinch astatine slightest 1 awesome action group portion scheduled for this set, featuring hundreds of extras. 

Taken arsenic a whole, accumulation connected "Varanasi" is guaranteed to beryllium a agelong and grueling saga. Will it beryllium worthy it? We'll spot erstwhile nan Tollywood epic hits theaters connected April 7, 2027.