Hyderabad/Bhubaneswar: Priyanka Chopra has returned to India and is expected to travel to Odisha, where the second schedule of S S Rajamouli’s much-anticipated film, SSMB29, is underway.
The jungle adventure is known to be headlined by Mahesh Babu, but the full cast and the film’s title are yet to be officially announced. Amid the speculation that Priyanka will be making her comeback in Indian cinema with SSMB 29, her mother, Madhu Chopra, in a recent interview with Lehren Retro, had subtly confirmed her involvement, saying, “Vahin shooting pe hain voh” (She is shooting the film).
Priyanka had shot a few scenes in Hyderabad then she traveled to Mumbai for her brother Siddharth Chopra’s wedding festivities. On February 19, she returned to New York with her daughter, Malti Marie, according to reports.
On Monday, some fans shared a picture of the Citadel actress posing with crew members upon landing in Hyderabad.
VIRAL: #PriyankaChopra poses with her fans at Hyderabad airport. She is seemingly in India to resume filming for #SSRajamouli’s #SSMB29. 🙌#Trending pic.twitter.com/HkwGKoCLHF
— Hemant (@Hemant1823645) March 10, 2025
Some media outlets, however, indicated that Priyanka has already landed in Odisha and would now proceed to the set of SSMB29 to shoot her scenes.
The ongoing schedule of SSMB 29 is expected to feature Mahesh Babu, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Priyanka. Although the makers have kept Mahesh Babu’s look under wraps, leaked photos and videos purportedly from the set in Odisha have already surfaced on social media.
First, pictures of Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran boarding a flight to Odisha at the Hyderabad airport went viral. Then, videos of a massive set being put up on Talamali Hilltop in Semiliguda, Koraput were leaked online. On Sunday, a clip from the shoot featuring Mahesh began doing the rounds on social media, causing concern for the team.
Following the leaks, a ‘three-layer security arrangement’ has been put in place for the rest of the schedule. The team also issued copyright strikes, forcing social media platforms to remove the footage, and is reportedly looking to initiate legal action to stop further leaks.
The district administration has granted the unit permission until March 28. The major shooting locations include scenic spots like Deomali, Talamali, and Machkund, with the first schedule primarily focused on Talamali, according to sources.
The action-packed jungle adventure film, which is already touted to be the next global blockbuster, is being made under the Durga Art banner on a staggering budget of Rs 1000 crore.
Koraput, where misty mountains and lush valleys cradled by dense forests erupts into cascading waterfalls, has become a preferred location for South Indian films in the recent past
Last year, ‘Pushpa 2’, directed by Sukumar and starring Allu Arjun, was filmed in Machhkund, Lamtaput and Duduma. Tollywood superstar Venkatesh’s recent hit film ‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam; had key scenes shot at Balda Caves in Koraput. Actress Anushka Shetty had also visited the region last year for the film ‘Ghaati’, shot extensively in Deomali, Jeypore, Kolab, and Machhkund.
