Our Bureau
Mumbai
Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli has revealed that the vast landscapes of Africa posed a unique challenge while shooting his upcoming film Varanasi, saying the scale of locations around Kenya’s Masai Mara and Mount Kilimanjaro was so immense that even the 1.43:1 IMAX frame struggled to contain the visuals.
Sharing his experience of the Africa schedule, Rajamouli said the natural landscapes offered something that a studio set could not replicate. The director said there were moments when he felt that even the expansive IMAX format could not fully capture what was in front of the camera.
The comments have added to the growing anticipation around Varanasi, which is being mounted as a large-scale global adventure starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on April 7, 2027.
Rajamouli has previously announced that Varanasi is being filmed in the 1.43:1 IMAX format, making it the first Indian film and the first non-English-language film to be shot in the format. The production has also travelled to international locations as part of its effort to create a globe-spanning visual world.
The Africa schedule included filming around the Masai Mara and Kilimanjaro. According to Rajamouli, working in these locations allowed the team to use the natural scale of the landscape rather than recreate it digitally or through large studio sets.
The filmmaker also praised Mahesh Babu’s portrayal of Rudhra, describing the character as someone born to fulfil a purpose larger than himself. He said the actor brings both fierceness and vulnerability to the role.
Varanasi is expected to combine mythology, action and adventure across multiple timelines. With its international locations and emphasis on large-format cinematography, the film is being positioned as one of the most ambitious productions in Indian cinema.