SS Rajamouli has finally clarified reports claiming that his upcoming film Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, was filmed in Antarctica. The filmmaker confirmed that his team initially planned to shoot a sequence on the frozen continent but ultimately abandoned the idea after finding an alternative approach. However, Antarctica will still feature in the film’s ambitious globe-trotting storyline.
Speaking on The Empire Film Podcast, released on October 10, 2026, Rajamouli revealed that the production had seriously considered travelling to Antarctica before reconsidering the plan.
“Initially we had an idea of really going to Antarctica, we really made plans but we found alternative ways to do that,” he explained.
The director did not reveal where the sequence was eventually filmed or which filmmaking techniques were used to recreate the location.
Why Varanasi’s Antarctica Shoot Was Cancelled
Earlier reports suggested that Rajamouli, Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra were preparing for an Antarctica schedule, potentially making the production one of the rare Indian films to shoot on the continent.
However, Rajamouli’s clarification establishes that the proposed trip never materialised.
The distinction matters because Varanasi remains an expansive adventure spanning multiple locations and historical periods. Rajamouli previously revealed that the story travels from Varanasi to Antarctica, Africa and Ancient Rome before returning to the holy Indian city.
The production has already filmed sequences in Kenya and Georgia, alongside extensive work in India.
What We Know About Varanasi
Marking Rajamouli’s first feature since RRR, Varanasi stars Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra as Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran as antagonist Kumbha.
The film combines mythology, time travel and large-scale action, with Rajamouli previously identifying a father-son relationship as its emotional foundation.
Varanasi is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027.
Although the Antarctica filming plans have changed, the continent remains part of the story. Rajamouli’s latest comments underline how an ambitious cinematic setting does not necessarily require filming at the actual location.
