Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra’s Varanasi continues to be one of the most talked-about films. The film also stars Prithviraj Sukumaran as the antagonist. Well, recently in an interview, the actor shared
some details about how it was on the set and also praised SS Rajamouli for his dedication. The actor also shared insights into his experience of collaborating with the filmmaker and highlighted Rajamouli’s relentless work ethic.
In conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Prithviraj Sukumaran revealed that there were only 20-minute lunch breaks on the set. He was quoted as saying, “He comes across as one of those young filmmakers who’s finally gotten to make his first film. I have not worked with a harder-working filmmaker than him. Lunch breaks on the set of Varanasi are just about 20 minutes (laughs).” Prithviraj Sukumaran revealed that Rajamouli is both the first person to arrive on the set and the last to leave.
He added that Rajamouli expects his actors to stick to the schedule and he himself arrives well before the shoot and ensures that everything is perfectly aligned.
SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi May Release In Two Parts | Report
According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the upcoming epic action-adventure could be split into two films to accommodate its expansive narrative. The decision, if finalised, mirrors a storytelling approach that Rajamouli successfully executed with Baahubali, which changed the dynamics of large-scale filmmaking in India and paved the way for multi-part franchise films.
A source familiar with the development told the publication, “Three hours-plus would not be enough for Varanasi. They are looking at extending it into a two-part format,” adding, “Rajamouli and his team feel this extended format would afford them the liberty to tell a more expanded story without looking anxiously at the clock.”
The film features Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran in lead roles and is being mounted on a large scale.
Despite being set in Varanasi, the film is not being shot in the holy city. Instead, the makers have recreated an elaborate version of Varanasi in Hyderabad. Reports indicate that large sets, including a replica of the Ratneshwar Mahadev temple, have been constructed to bring authenticity to the story. A full-scale temple structure has also been built for sequences set in the past and will later be submerged underwater to depict scenes from the present timeline.
