SS Rajamouli Varanasi: Filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli has revealed fresh details about his much-anticipated epic Varanasi. During conversations held around the trailer launch last year, clips of which have now surfaced online, Rajamouli spoke candidly about the creative choices shaping the project.
One of the biggest revelations concerns the film’s runtime and format. Rajamouli confirmed that Varanasi will be a single-part feature with a runtime of roughly three hours. He also shared that the film has been shot specifically for IMAX, using the towering 1.43:1 aspect ratio to capture its visual ambition fully.
SS Rajamouli talks about shooting Varanasi
Speaking to Screen Rant during the Hyderabad glimpse launch in November, the director explained that the idea to shoot in IMAX emerged during the pre-visualisation stage. According to him, the story spans multiple worlds and timelines, demanding a format that could do justice to its grandeur. He added that he remains hopeful India will have enough IMAX screens by the time the film releases.
Explaining his vision, Rajamouli said, “The format is to encompass the scale. For example, the Antarctica portion, the Ramayana portion, you have seen how they’re tall and vertical. To encompass them is why we need the bigger format. That has been the main reason why we filmed in IMAX.” He further noted, “All the technicalities will be taken care of by the DOP. I don’t get into the technicalities. I will be telling them ‘This is my vision, so which is the best way to fit my vision’.”
Varanasi release date
Varanasi stars Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, with Priyanka Chopra playing Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran portraying antagonist Kumbha. The story moves across eras and locations, including Varanasi, Antarctica, Kenya, 512 CE, 2027 CE and the Treta Yuga. The film is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027.