Actor Priyanka Chopra has showered praise on filmmaker SS Rajamouli, calling her upcoming film Varanasi a “career-defining” project. The film marks Priyanka’s Telugu cinema debut and her return to Indian films after 2019.
Speaking to Associated Press (AP), Priyanka expressed her excitement about collaborating with Rajamouli, whom she described as one of India’s finest directors.
“The filmmaker’s name is SS Rajamouli, sir, and he is one of the best that we have in India. His movie is going to be really career-defining for me, I think. I am very excited about it,” she said.
Priyanka Chopra on Her Role in ‘Varanasi’
In Varanasi, Priyanka plays the character Mandakini. The actor has high hopes for the film and believes it could be a significant milestone in her career.
Earlier, in an interview with Variety, Priyanka revealed that Varanasi is unlike anything she has done before.
“This is unlike anything I’ve ever done. We travel from like Antarctica to … And just the worlds that he creates are so larger than life, and nobody has the vision that he does. So even I’m excited to see more,” she said.
She also shared a fun anecdote about what she told Rajamouli before signing the project.
“I was like, ‘Listen, I’m coming back to Indian movies. I have to do a dance song. Like you have to make me dance.’ I know I’m gonna be doing it, but we haven’t shot it yet. OK, that’s one of the last things, which I’m really looking forward to. But we already did one where the choreography was crazy. It’s so intricate,” she added.
All About SS Rajamouli’s ‘Varanasi’
Varanasi is an epic action-adventure film starring Mahesh Babu as the protagonist Rudhra and Prithviraj Sukumaran as the antagonist Kumbha. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on April 7, 2027.
The film’s music is composed by MM Keeravani, and it is produced by Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business.
The official title Varanasi was announced in November 2025 during a massive event in Hyderabad that reportedly attracted around 50,000 fans. At the event, Rajamouli unveiled a teaser showcasing breathtaking visuals and a storyline spanning multiple timelines and locations, including Antarctica, Varanasi, Kenya, 512 CE, 2027 CE, and the Threthayuga.
The teaser ended with a powerful visual of Mahesh Babu riding a bull, holding a trident, and charging through Varanasi in a blood-soaked shirt with a Nandi pendant—leaving fans thrilled.
Priyanka Chopra’s Upcoming Projects
Apart from Varanasi, Priyanka will be seen in Citadel Season 2, which is currently in the pipeline. She will also star in The Bluff alongside Karl Urban. Her recent appearance was in the action thriller Heads of State, where she starred alongside Idris Elba and John Cena.