Mumbai: ‘Baahubali’ filmmaker SS Rajamouli, who always kept his films under wraps, has allowed some international publications access to his ‘Varanasi’ sets.
In the pictures, shared by the film’s official social media handle on Tuesday night, one can see a recreated grand Varanasi on an open land in Hyderabad, featuring everything from its iconic ghats to ancient temples.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, the sprawling set, covering roughly 700 by 400 feet, is almost an identical recreation of the city in Uttar Pradesh.
The publication noted that “the level of craftsmanship was striking. Buildings were constructed using detailed reference images of the real Varanasi, complete with precise measurements and decoration instructions to ensure authenticity.”
“In the past version, most of our scenes that we are doing are closer to the water. The building that you see behind you (pictured in the feature image) is one of the major changes. It is sunken down by about 12 feet. We have the rest of the building constructed, and we have sunk it down, so when we go back to the olden era, we’ll have to pull it back up, cut it down into pieces, and rearrange it,” a line producer was quoted as saying by ScreenRant.
The film, which stars Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha, is touted to be one of the costliest films ever made in India. It is slated for a theatrical release on April 7, 2027.