Mahesh Babu Claims Varanasi Is Priyanka Chopra's Telugu Debut; But Is It Actually?

At a recent promotional interaction, Varanasi actor Mahesh Babu remarked that the upcoming SS Rajamouli film is Priyanka Chopra’s first Telugu outing — a statement which is going viral on social media.

Priyanka Chopra laughed it off, describing the situation as “complicated.” While Varanasi marks her return to Indian cinema after nearly six years, is it really her Telugu debut, or does her journey with the industry have an earlier, lesser-known projects? Here's what you need to know.

Is Varanasi Priyanka Chopra’s Telugu Debut? Mahesh Babu’s Comment Sparks Curiosity

Priyanka Chopra’s return to Indian cinema with SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi has generated huge excitement. The film starring Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, Prithviraj Sukumaran as antagonist Kumbha, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini has been developed over nearly three years, During a recent chat with Screen Rant Plus, Mahesh Babu said that Varanasi is Priyanka Chopra’s first Telugu film.

When Priyanka mentioned she hadn’t done a Telugu movie in a long time, Mahesh Babu quickly said he hadn’t done one before. Laughing along, Priyanka called the situation “complicated,” sparking curiosity among fans. While Varanasi will be the first time Telugu audiences experience Priyanka Chopra in a full-fledged native Telugu narrative, it is not her first Telugu project.

Priyanka Chopra Was Set To Debut In Telugu Cinema With Apuroopam (2002)

Priyanka Chopra’s earliest Telugu film was Apuroopam, a 2002 romantic drama directed by Sai Ravikumar. Starring Madhukar and Prasanna alongside her, the film was meant to launch her in Telugu cinema early in her career. Promotional content were released and filming began, but financial difficulties forced the production to stop midway. The film was eventually shelved and never released theatrically.

Priyanka Chopra's Bilingual Release: Zanjeer / Toofan (2013)

In 2013, Priyanka Chopra appeared in Zanjeer, directed by Apoorva Lakhia. Shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu, the Telugu version titled Toofan starred Ram Charan, with Srihari replacing Sanjay Dutt. This film marked Peddi star Ram Charan’s Hindi cinema debut as well.Despite her earlier connections to Telugu cinema, Varanasi holds special significance for Priyanka Chopra as it will be her first full-fledged Telugu film to release in theatres. The much awaited film is scheduled to hit screens on April 7, 2027.