90 takes, 20-min breaks: Prithviraj describes a day on Rajamouli's Varanasi set
Prithviraj Sukumaran recalled a Varanasi scene with Mahesh Babu that ran through more than 90 takes under SS Rajamouli. He said the filmmaker's exacting routine, from 20-minute lunch breaks to early arrivals, reflected relentless commitment on set.
A single shot. More than 90 takes. Lunch breaks that barely last 20 minutes.Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran now offered a glimpse into the intense working style behind SS Rajamouli’s highly anticipated Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra in the lead.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Prithviraj opened up about the filmmaker’s perfectionist approach and recalled filming a scene with Mahesh Babu that stretched for an entire day because Rajamouli was not satisfied with the outcome.
“This is not an exaggeration,” Prithviraj said, recalling the experience. “For one particular shot in the film, Mahesh Babu and I started shooting it in the morning. I am not sure if it was take 94 or 97.”
The actor revealed that the team broke for lunch after hours of shooting, but the break did not last long. “Just when we thought we would have a second mouthful of food, he called us back on set,” he said, adding that the shoot continued until around 6.30 pm or 7 pm. Even after that, Rajamouli was not convinced, and the actors were asked to return the next day to film the sequence again.
Prithviraj, who plays Kumbha, a wheelchair-bound and dangerous antagonist in the film, described Rajamouli as the “hardest-working director” he has worked with. Calling him a “pathbreaker”, the actor said the filmmaker’s dedication reminded him of “a young filmmaker who had to wait 20-30 years to make his first film.”
Speaking about Rajamouli’s routine on set, Prithviraj said the director would often reach hours before the actors. For a 7 am shoot, the actor said everything would already be prepared by the time he, Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra arrived.
“He told me he had been there since 5.15 am,” Prithviraj recalled, adding that Rajamouli would rehearse with his assistants, set up the camera and work through every detail before filming began. The actor also said Rajamouli was usually among the last people to leave the set, with lunch breaks during the shoot lasting “barely 20 minutes.”
Varanasi, which also stars Priyanka Chopra, has been among the most awaited Indian films in recent years. The makers have kept major plot details under wraps, though an animated teaser released during the Globetrotter event hinted at a story spanning different time periods, featuring locations across the world.
The film is scheduled for a worldwide release on April 7, 2027. Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, while Priyanka Chopra stars as Mandakini.
A single shot. More than 90 takes. Lunch breaks that barely last 20 minutes.Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran now offered a glimpse into the intense working style behind SS Rajamouli’s highly anticipated Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra in the lead.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Prithviraj opened up about the filmmaker’s perfectionist approach and recalled filming a scene with Mahesh Babu that stretched for an entire day because Rajamouli was not satisfied with the outcome.
“This is not an exaggeration,” Prithviraj said, recalling the experience. “For one particular shot in the film, Mahesh Babu and I started shooting it in the morning. I am not sure if it was take 94 or 97.”
The actor revealed that the team broke for lunch after hours of shooting, but the break did not last long. “Just when we thought we would have a second mouthful of food, he called us back on set,” he said, adding that the shoot continued until around 6.30 pm or 7 pm. Even after that, Rajamouli was not convinced, and the actors were asked to return the next day to film the sequence again.
Prithviraj, who plays Kumbha, a wheelchair-bound and dangerous antagonist in the film, described Rajamouli as the “hardest-working director” he has worked with. Calling him a “pathbreaker”, the actor said the filmmaker’s dedication reminded him of “a young filmmaker who had to wait 20-30 years to make his first film.”
Speaking about Rajamouli’s routine on set, Prithviraj said the director would often reach hours before the actors. For a 7 am shoot, the actor said everything would already be prepared by the time he, Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra arrived.
“He told me he had been there since 5.15 am,” Prithviraj recalled, adding that Rajamouli would rehearse with his assistants, set up the camera and work through every detail before filming began. The actor also said Rajamouli was usually among the last people to leave the set, with lunch breaks during the shoot lasting “barely 20 minutes.”
Varanasi, which also stars Priyanka Chopra, has been among the most awaited Indian films in recent years. The makers have kept major plot details under wraps, though an animated teaser released during the Globetrotter event hinted at a story spanning different time periods, featuring locations across the world.
The film is scheduled for a worldwide release on April 7, 2027. Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, while Priyanka Chopra stars as Mandakini.
