S.S. Rajamouli Unveils New Stills of Priyanka Chopra Jonas in ‘Varanasi’ on Her Birthday
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, to mark Priyanka Chopra Jonas’s birthday, two new stills of her performance in S.S. Rajamouli’s upcoming film, Varanasi, have been released.
The narrative of Varanasi spans thousands of years, unfolding across multiple continents—ranging from Antarctica and Africa to the historic city of Varanasi in India. In this epic saga, Mahesh Babu takes on a dual role, portraying both the protagonist, Rudra, and the Hindu deity, Rama. Priyanka Chopra Jonas stars as a character named Mandakini, while Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the main antagonist, Kumbha.
Rajamouli had previously opened up about casting Chopra Jonas as Mandakini, noting that the character required specific traits that she uniquely possesses. “She can be a very tough, fierce girl and at the same time show immense vulnerability,” he explained. “There are very few actors who can bring both qualities to a single character. She did a fantastic job, and I am thrilled to have her on board for this project.”
The film marks Chopra Jonas’s return to Indian cinema following a stint in Hollywood projects, including the series Citadel and the film The Matrix Resurrections. Describing the project as a defining milestone in her career, she stated: “If there was going to be a way back to Indian cinema, it absolutely had to be with the biggest film being made in the country, and this project is exactly that. I believe Rajamouli’s vision is unlike anyone else’s in this country or even abroad. His global peers are directors like Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, and David Fincher.”
Varanasi is Rajamouli’s follow-up project to his massive, Oscar-winning hit RRR. M.M. Keeravani, who won an Academy Award for the song “Naatu Naatu” in the director’s previous film, is also set to compose the score for this new venture.
