Priyanka Chopra told SS Rajamouli, 'Have to be able to dance in Varanasi' as her must-have for the film

Priyanka Chopra Jonas discussed her comeback to Indian cinema and S.S. Rajamouli's production techniques after the title of the forthcoming epic Varanasi was revealed at a press event. In an interview with Screen Rant Plus, Chopra discussed the cultural and technological contrasts she has seen since coming back from big Hollywood productions.

How does Priyanka Chopra feel to receive such intense local fan support?

For the actor, who has been busy with foreign projects like Heads of State and Citadel for the past several years, her role in "Varanasi" was like coming home. When asked about the crowd's reaction, she brought up how different the regional fanbase is. For me, I haven't done a Telugu movie in I don't even know... I haven't done one," she stated, adding, "Being able to get, like, having that kind of acceptance from Telugu fans—as you've seen, it's very, very specific to this region, first of all. That kind of level of love and affection is something very unique to this region."

The actor drew a comparison between her life abroad and the global perception of Indian film culture. "I think Indian cinema has fandom... the level of love and affection and attention that you get is unprecedented. You don't see that—now having worked abroad—you don't see that anywhere else in the world. It's very specific to Indian cinema and Indian fans," she said.

ALSO READ: Priyanka Chopra on navigating Telugu language barrier in Varanasi: 'Had to phonetically memorise; improvisation's really tough'

Does working in Hollywood change how Priyanka Chopra approaches an Indian film set?

Chopra stressed that every industry needs a distinct frame of mind when asked how her international career has affected her approach to this project. "I think that the culture of filmmaking is very different in Hollywood versus how we work in India, and you have to pivot your brain. So I can divide my brain into two," she explained. She further noted that she does not attempt to mix the two styles: "I don't think there is a world in which you bring lessons from there here or vice versa. I think you have to immerse yourself in—and I believe anyway an actor's journey is through a director's vision... I think you just have to go into every film set with the originality of whatever you're going to receive from that set."

Chopra thanked Rajamouli, whose previous film RRR was a huge success around the world, for the chance to collaborate with him. "I'm so happy to be coming back and making this movie in India because if there was any way to come back into Indian cinema, it was this. So I'm just really grateful to have a wonderful part and to be able to work with stalwarts like these two but also Rajamouli sir, who's a visionary like we've never seen before," Chopra said.

How meticulous is SS Rajamouli’s technical process during rehearsals?

The actor said that Rajamouli is very meticulous when it comes to the technical aspects of the film. "We are actually spoilt in this set. Oh yeah, no one does this. It's the worst!" she joked, before detailing the director's process. "He shoots the rehearsal—he shoots it with his cinematographer—exactly like [the final scene]. So this line will be a close-up; this line will be a wide shot, so everyone knows exactly what you're doing by the time you get to set. So we're never at a point where you're unaware."

Additionally, she brought up the fact that, before scenes are formally filmed on location, the cast typically watches them in edited form. Chopra revealed, "For most of our major scenes, we've shot and edited the scene with just us in track pants or whatever in our casual clothes just in a studio. But we know exactly what we're doing, which, a lot of times, you don't have the privilege to do."

Why was the return of dance sequences so important to Priyanka Chopra?

As an Indian film icon who spent her career in Hollywood, Chopra counts the return of traditional song-and-dance scenes in Varanasi among her career highlights. "This is the first one that I'm doing after almost six years in India... my favourite part was getting to dance again. I haven't done that in any of my Hollywood productions. I was really excited to be able to do that. As an actor in Hindi films, she said, "That's something that was a big part of it" when asked about these features during first conversations. The actor added, "I would request that we have—I have to be able to dance in this movie."

The film supposedly has a massive plot and is being promoted using the hashtag #GlobeTrotter. "The reason it's called Globe Trotter and the hashtag is #GlobeTrotter is because the movie moves around lots of, you know, not just time zones, but also time travel. So it's really fun, and I can't wait... if RRR was—if you were that impressed by that—then I think this will be a lot more fun," Chopra concluded.

When is the official release date for Varanasi?

Production on Varanasi has been underway for about 10 months, and the film is now scheduled for release in April 2027.

Varanasi FAQs:

Q: When is the release date for Varanasi?

A: Varanasi is currently slated for a theatrical release on April 7, 2027. The date was chosen to coincide with the Ugadi and Gudi Padwa festival period, providing an extended holiday window for its debut.

Q: Is Priyanka Chopra returning to Indian cinema with Varanasi?

A: Yes. Varanasi marks Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ return to Indian films after a six-year hiatus. She portrays a character named Mandakini, described as a "mysterious thief" or archaeologist.

Q: Who is in the cast of Varanasi?

A: Varanasi features a star-studded pan-Indian cast, including Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini, Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha (the primary antagonist), and Prakash Raj in a supporting role.