Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli has unveiled Priyanka Chopra’s first look from his highly anticipated action-adventure film Varanasi. The new stills, released on July 18 to mark the actress’s birthday, offer fans their first glimpse of Chopra as Mandakini, one of the film’s central characters.
The newly released images showcase Chopra in a striking look, hinting at the grand scale and historical depth of the upcoming film. While the makers have not revealed details about her character, the first look has already generated excitement among fans eager to see her collaboration with the acclaimed director behind RRR.
Varanasi takes place over thousands of years and moves through locations like Antarctica, Africa, and the ancient city of Varanasi in India. The film features a star cast, including Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran.
This is Rajamouli’s first film since RRR, which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song with “Naatu Naatu.” Composer M.M. Keeravani, who also worked on RRR, has joined Rajamouli again to create the music for Varanasi.
Earlier this year, Priyanka Chopra shared her experience working with Rajamouli during an appearance at Cannes Lions, praising the filmmaker’s on-set command.
“He has complete and utter control on set. You just come as an actor with the weight of your character, which is also really freeing because you’re not thinking about the things you would as a producer,” Chopra said.
Apart from Varanasi, Chopra has another major project lined up. She is expected to begin filming the survival thriller Reset, directed by Matt Smukler, later this year. The film follows a woman who wakes up deep in the wilderness with no memory of how she got there and must rely on a mysterious stranger, played by Orlando Bloom, to survive.
Varanasi is set to release in theaters worldwide on April 7, 2027, and is already one of the most awaited Indian films in production. With Rajamouli directing and a global cast, it is expected to be a major release in 2027.