Priyanka Chopra sets unbreakable record with Rajamouli’s Varanasi

Priyanka Chopra is making her Telugu debut with Rajamouli’s ambitious global action-adventure, “Varanasi.” As the filmmaker aims to expand his reach beyond Indian audiences and make a strong impact in the international market, particularly in the United States, he wanted a globally recognized star to play one of the film’s key roles. That made Priyanka Chopra the ideal choice as the female lead opposite Mahesh Babu.

To bring her on board, Rajamouli and the producers reportedly agreed to pay her close to Rs 30 crore, making it the highest remuneration ever paid to an Indian actress for a Telugu film. Reports also suggest that no actress in Bollywood has received such a massive paycheck for a single film.

With this, Priyanka has set a benchmark that is unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon. For comparison, Deepika Padukone reportedly received around Rs 22 crore for Allu Arjun’s Raaka, making Priyanka’s fee a significant new record.

What is Varanasi about?

“Varanasi” is an action-adventure thriller that blends mythology and fantasy while spanning centuries and continents. Mahesh Babu plays Rudra, a man from the present day who travels back to the era of the Ramayana alongside Kumbha, a quadriplegic character portrayed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, on a mission to retrieve a Sanjeevini-like medicinal plant.

Mahesh Babu also appears as Lord Rama, while Priyanka Chopra plays Mandakini, a pivotal character who aids Rudra on his extraordinary journey.

Directed by Rajamouli, “Varanasi” is scheduled to release on April 7, 2027, with music composed by M.M. Keeravani.