Director highlights African locations used for film titled Varanasi; camera format remains unclear
Filmmaker S S Rajamouli has released two first-look images from the Africa schedule of his upcoming action-adventure film titled Varanasi, saying the landscapes around Mount Kilimanjaro and the Masai Mara gave the production “something no set could”. The director’s note has renewed local interest in how a film bearing the city’s name is being photographed and presented.
The stills, released to mark lead actor Mahesh Babu’s 51st birthday, show the star in two markedly different settings: one with open grassland and wildlife such as zebras and giraffes in the background, the other on a bamboo raft amid dense greenery. Rajamouli described the character Rudhra as “witty, vulnerable and fierce”, adding that the role required balancing strength and fragility.
Rajamouli’s comment that “there were mornings I felt even the 1.43:1 IMAX frame could not hold what was in front of us” has been widely circulated and interpreted in some quarters as confirmation that parts of the film were shot using IMAX cameras. The director’s original wording, however, was framed as a reaction to the scale of the landscape rather than a technical statement about camera systems.
“These frames are from our Africa schedule, and the land gave us something no set could. Shooting around Kilimanjaro and in the Masai Mara, I was stunned,” Rajamouli wrote.
News reports which carried the director’s note emphasise that Rajamouli did not explicitly state whether IMAX cameras were used for the shoot, or, if they were, to what extent. Production details about camera packages and the proportion of footage shot on any particular format have not been announced.
What is known about the film’s cast, schedule and locations
- Lead cast: Mahesh Babu as Rudhra; Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran are also named in reports.
- Africa schedule: Filming locations cited include areas around Mount Kilimanjaro and the Masai Mara in Kenya.
- Release date: Reported worldwide theatrical release on 7 April 2027.
The way the film’s title — the name of one of India’s oldest living cities — is being marketed and photographed has drawn attention in Varanasi, where residents and local cultural stakeholders often watch closely when popular cinema uses the city’s name or imagery.
| Detail | Reported information |
|---|---|
| Director | S S Rajamouli |
| Main cast (reported) | Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Prithviraj Sukumaran |
| Africa locations | Mount Kilimanjaro, Masai Mara (Kenya) |
| Camera/format | Director referenced 1.43:1 IMAX aspect ratio; no confirmation of IMAX cameras |
| Release (reported) | 7 April 2027 |
Local reaction in Varanasi may hinge on two related questions: how prominently the city itself will feature in the finished film, and whether the cinematic portrayal aligns with local sensibilities. Films using city names can influence perceptions, tourism and civic branding; they also prompt conversation about authenticity when extensive location work is carried out elsewhere.
So far, official production statements beyond Rajamouli’s note have been limited in scope. Reports show the team is completing sequences overseas; other shooting — including in Hyderabad and locations in India — has been mentioned in entertainment pages but without a comprehensive production itinerary. The director’s recent posts and promotional stills are the clearest direct communication to date about the Africa schedule.
For residents of Varanasi, the unfolding production and promotional campaign will be watched for further clarification of how the city figures in the narrative, how local culture and locations are represented, and whether any on-location shooting will take place in or around Varanasi itself as the release date approaches.
