Priyanka Chopra is officially back in Indian cinema, and we trust her to return with a bang. Her upcoming film with Mahesh Babu, titled Varanasi, has already set the internet ablaze. Though SS Rajamouli’s next big film has got everyone talking, it’s not just because it looks amazing. The movie Varanasi is trending because of its name, story, and massive budget. If you’ve been wondering what exactly is going on, here’s everything we know so far.

Related: Dining With The Kapoors Trailer: A Peek Inside Bollywood’s Most Iconic Family Lunch

Varanasi movie plot

The plot follows a devotee (Mahesh Babu) of Lord Shiva who’s sent on a dangerous mission to find an ancient cosmic artefact. During his search, he discovers that the person who sent him on this quest is actually an evil mastermind trying to control the world. Mahesh Babu is in a dual role of Ram and Rudra in the movie, and PC’s character reveal as Mandakini has already driven the internet into a frenzy. The film is set partly in 512 CE and features the holy city of Varanasi. Director Rajamouli says there’s one sequence that took 60 days to shoot and is “far more divine than you can imagine.”

Varanasi movie: The massive budget

SS Rajamouli, the highest-paid Indian director, never keeps it small. And it shows in Varanasi. With huge stars like Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra, the film’s budget is reported to be ₹1,200-1,300 crore, making it one of the most expensive films of Indian cinema. What’s even more shocking is that both Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu aren’t taking any salaries home. Instead, they’re sharing 40 per cent of the profits if the film turns out to be profitable, which we all know it will be.

Priyanka Chopra has made history too. She’s reportedly charging ₹30 crore, making her the highest-paid Indian female actor ever, surpassing Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt. The entire film is being shot in IMAX format for a global release in summer 2027.

The ‘Varanasi’ controversy: Does someone else own the name?

Here’s where it gets messy. Just days after the grand title reveal, another production company called Rama Bramha Hanuma Creations came forward saying they own the rights to the title “Vaaranasi” (with an extra ‘a’). They registered it with the Telugu Film Producers’ Council back in 2023, and it’s valid until July 2026. Rajamouli’s team spelt it with one less “a” (Varanasi), but when you say both names out loud, they sound the same. The Telugu Film Producers’ Council has confirmed that the title rights don’t belong to Rajamouli’s team right now. So, there might be a legal battle coming.

Will the name of Varanasi change? Or will Rajamouli prevail? Nobody knows yet. But one thing’s certain: this film has everyone’s attention. We can’t wait to see what happens next!

Featured Image Source

Related: The Family Man Recap: Everything You Need To Remember Before Season 3 Releases