SS Rajamouli is operating on a scale that few directors can even conceptualize. A leaked photograph from the heavily guarded Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad surfaced online Tuesday, May 26, giving fans their very first look at the highly anticipated “Ugrabhatti caves” sequence for his upcoming sci-fi mythological adventure, Varanasi. Anticipation has been building steadily since earlier set photos went viral in March, but this new image offers a clearer picture of the sheer physical footprint the production requires.
The image itself does not feature any cast members. It instead completely exposes the intricate production design of what is being billed as India’s most expensive film to date. Because shooting a visually heavy epic in the real, densely populated city of Kashi proved logistically impossible, Rajamouli simply opted to build his own version of the ancient city from the ground up.
The production team has constructed a 700-by-400-foot recreation of the city inside the studio. According to a detailed report regarding the involvement of Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran on the expansive sets, the film is heavily utilizing cutting-edge motion-capture technology. This project carries significant industry weight, largely because it marks Chopra’s highly anticipated return to Indian cinema after a nearly seven-year absence following her 2019 film The Sky Is Pink. It also serves as Rajamouli’s direct follow-up to the global Oscar-winning phenomenon RRR.
The architectural details inside the soundstage show an obsessive level of practical craftsmanship. The sprawling set includes intricate riverside temples and a stunning 12-foot sunken structure designed to mimic the iconic tilt of the Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple. This physical commitment bypasses standard green-screen reliance, grounding the rumored time-travel plotline, which reportedly spans three distinct eras, in a highly tangible environment.
The film is currently slated for a global IMAX release on April 7, 2027.