Priyanka Chopra preps with Rajamouli and shares fun moments with Mahesh Babu in Varanasi BTS: “Varanasi launch from my eyes”

November 18, 2025 - 11:00 AM IST

Priyanka Chopra shared a behind-the-scenes video from the Varanasi event, giving fans a look at her preparations and her light-hearted moments with Mahesh Babu. The actor is set to return to Indian cinema with SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi. She recently attended the title and teaser reveal event in Hyderabad, where her appearance drew widespread attention.

Priyanka Chopra preps with Rajamouli and shares fun moments with Mahesh Babu in Varanasi BTS: “Varanasi launch from my eyes”

Priyanka Chopra shares BTS moments from Varanasi event
On Monday, Priyanka posted a video on Instagram featuring several behind-the-scenes clips from the grand event. The video opened with her practising Telugu lines and writing her speech for the audience. She offered a glimpse of her prep routine, wearing a face mask and taking notes for her stage address.

Priyanka appeared slightly nervous as she got ready with her team. She admitted that speaking Telugu in front of a live audience felt more challenging than delivering lines in a film. The video also showed her rehearsing her entry and dialogue with SS Rajamouli, and later discussing her ideas with Mahesh Babu. The two shared a warm laugh just before she went on stage, seemingly to lighten the mood.

On stage, Priyanka said, “I am so happy to be back, making this movie in my beloved India.” After her speech, she greeted Namrata Shirodkar and Sitara with hugs before taking her seat to watch the teaser. She captioned the video, “Varanasi launch from my eyes.”

During the event, Priyanka praised Prithviraj Sukumaran, noting that although he appeared intimidating as the villain in the film, he was the opposite in real life. She thanked Mahesh Babu and his family for making Hyderabad feel like home and called SS Rajamouli the visionary who took Indian cinema to a global level. Priyanka wore a white lehenga choli for the event, drawing comparisons to Princess Jasmine for her elegant look.

About Varanasi
Varanasi stars Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra as Mandakini, and Prithviraj Sukumaran as the antagonist, Kumbha. The teaser showed Mahesh in a fiery avatar, riding a bull with a trishul on the streets of Varanasi. Although the teaser did not reveal much about the story, many fans speculated that the film involved time travel. SS Rajamouli confirmed that Mahesh also appeared as Lord Rama in a sequence that took 60 days to shoot.

While the launch event showcased the teaser, title, and Mahesh’s first look, Rajamouli had already released Priyanka’s look as Mandakini a few days earlier on Instagram. The poster featured her in a yellow saree, holding a gun in the middle of an action scene, and it received strong reactions from fans. Sharing the poster, Rajamouli wrote, “The woman who redefined Indian cinema on the global stage. Welcome back, Desi Girl! Can’t wait for the world to witness your many shades of Mandakini. #GlobeTrotter.”

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