Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 18: The first look of Priyanka Chopra Jonas from filmmaker SS Rajamouli's upcoming magnum opus Varanasi has been unveiled, marking the actor's much-awaited return to Indian cinema after 2019's The Sky Is Pink.
In the epic action-adventure, Priyanka plays Mandakini, a globetrotting character described as "fierce, strong, vulnerable and unforgettable."
Varanasi is Rajamouli's first original directorial venture since the global success of RRR. The film is set across multiple timelines, spanning thousands of years from ancient civilisations to the present day, with the story unfolding across Antarctica, Africa and the holy city of Varanasi.
To recreate the sacred city, Rajamouli built elaborate sets in Hyderabad, replicating Varanasi's iconic ghats, temples and palatial architecture.
Mahesh Babu plays the lead role of Rudhra and also portrays Lord Rama in a secondary role. Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran essays the role of Kumbha, the principal antagonist, a wheelchair user described as "dangerously unlimited in his mentality". Priyanka's character finds herself caught between the two men.
Known for his large-scale productions, Rajamouli also shot portions of the film in Kenya's Maasai Mara with real wild animals after receiving special permission from the Kenyan government.
Speaking recently on the Hey Jonas podcast hosted by her husband Nick Jonas and his brothers Kevin and Joe Jonas, Priyanka said she had been working on the film for about 14 months.
"I have been working on it for about 14 months now. But SS Rajamouli is known to take that kind of time to make movies. He called me for this movie, and it's this epic adventure around the world and in time. It has taken a minute, but I'm so excited about it. I do many amazing slow-motion jumps in it, and that's all I can say about it," she said.
Rajamouli earned worldwide acclaim with RRR (2022), which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Naatu Naatu, making it the first Indian feature film to win an Oscar.
Varanasi is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027.