All posts tagged: Rajamouli

Baahubali was called ‘Indian cinema’s biggest disaster,’ says SS Rajamouli: ‘Had deficit of ₹70 crore on release day’

Baahubali was called ‘Indian cinema’s biggest disaster,’ says SS Rajamouli: ‘Had deficit of ₹70 crore on release day’

Published by Parlour News

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli‘s Baahubali franchise not only transformed Indian cinema but also became the first Indian film franchise to cross the ₹1,000 crore mark at the worldwide box office. However, the film’s release day turned out to be one of the most nerve-racking experiences for the cast, producers and Rajamouli himself. In the Netflix documentary Baahubali: The Torchbearer, the filmmaker recalled how the film was initially labelled “Indian cinema’s biggest disaster”, leaving the team convinced that their careers were over. SS Rajamouli feared Baahubali would lead end of his career. SS Rajamouli recalls the release day fear of Baahubali SS Rajamouli and producer Shobu Yarlagadda, who backed the film under Arka Media Works, explained that there was no fixed budget at the start of production. Shobu revealed that they were constantly scrambling to arrange funds for the next day’s shoot. “After a few days, the per-day cost went up to ₹25 lakh or even more. Our four-day war sequence alone could have funded an entire small film 12 years ago. We were spending around ₹1 …

‘Disaster’: SS Rajamouli reveals the pure terror and Rs 70 cr deficit behind Baahubali | Telugu News

‘Disaster’: SS Rajamouli reveals the pure terror and Rs 70 cr deficit behind Baahubali | Telugu News

Published by Parlour News

For a film now remembered as one of the defining moments of Indian cinema, Baahubali came close to being seen as the industry’s biggest disaster, according to new accounts from its cast and crew in the new docuseries, Baahubali: The Torchbearer, which was released on Friday in Netflix. The trouble began with money. “If we had known beforehand that both the parts would need Rs 400 crores, Baahubali would’ve never been made. No doubt about it,” director S.S. Rajamouli admitted. Producer Shobu Yarlagadda, who backed the film through Arka Mediaworks, explained there was no fixed budget to begin with. “We did not have a budget in mind. We would think of what would be the best possible cost without compromising on the director’s vision. And whatever it took, we were putting in,” he said. His co-producer at Arka Mediaworks, Prasad Devineni, called the fundraising process itself “crazy.” “I think the most expensive film in Telugu cinema till then was Magadheera. Now we were talking about raising almost five times the budget of that film. Sometimes …

Prithviraj Sukumaran says SS Rajamouli took nearly 100 takes for a single scene in Varanasi: ‘It’s not an exaggeration’

Prithviraj Sukumaran says SS Rajamouli took nearly 100 takes for a single scene in Varanasi: ‘It’s not an exaggeration’

Published by Parlour News

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli is known for pushing the boundaries of Indian cinema, and it appears his pursuit of perfection continues with his upcoming magnum opus, Varanasi. Starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran, the ambitious film has already made headlines for its demanding shoot. Now, Prithviraj has revealed that Rajamouli once insisted on nearly 100 takes for a single scene, with filming stretching from morning until evening before the director finally decided to call it a day. Prithviraj Sukumaran reveals how he and Mahesh Babu had to give 97 takes for one perfect shot during Varanasi. Prithviraj Sukumaran on SS Rajamouli’s perfectionism Talking about Rajamouli’s dedication to getting the perfect shot, Prithviraj recalled a “real day” from the film’s set and said, “It’s not an exaggeration. A particular shot in the film, Mahesh and I started shooting it in the morning, and I don’t remember if it was take 94 or 97. I remember Mahesh, and I joked about this. We started in the morning, we came to lunch break, we hadn’t had the …

97 takes for one shot: Why Prithviraj was ‘at war’ with SS Rajamouli on Varanasi sets | Telugu News

97 takes for one shot: Why Prithviraj was ‘at war’ with SS Rajamouli on Varanasi sets | Telugu News

Published by Parlour News

Actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran, who is currently shooting for SS Rajamouli’s ambitious film Varanasi, has opened up about what it is like working with the celebrated filmmaker. Starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra in lead roles, the movie also features Prithviraj as the primary antagonist. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, the actor praised Rajamouli’s relentless work ethic, attention to detail and collaborative approach, calling him the hardest-working filmmaker he has ever worked with. According to Prithviraj, SS Rajamouli approaches filmmaking with the enthusiasm of someone directing his very first film despite being one of India’s most successful directors. “You look at Rajamouli behind cameras or monitors or with the actors. For someone who doesn’t know him, it will seem like he is a new director who had to wait 20, 30 years to make his first film and has finally got the opportunity to make the film he really wanted to make. That’s the vibe he gives you. That’s all there is to learn from him.” Praising the filmmaker’s dedication on set, the actor continued, …

Jr NTR-SS Rajamouli risked it all on a Rs 1.8 cr college film with no safety net; earned it back 12x | Telugu News

Jr NTR-SS Rajamouli risked it all on a Rs 1.8 cr college film with no safety net; earned it back 12x | Telugu News

Published by Parlour News

With Dragon inching toward its June 2027 release and SS Rajamouli’s next film Varanasi already generating conversation, it is easy to forget that both men once had everything to prove. Twenty-four years ago, they were proving it together on a college campus in Visakhapatnam with a budget of Rs 1.8 crore and very little room for error. That film was called Student No. 1. It released in 2001, and neither of them has looked back since. Koduri Srisaila Sri Rajamouli was born into a family that had been part of Telugu cinema for years. His father, Vijayendra Prasad, is one of Tollywood’s most respected screenwriters. Growing up around the industry gave Rajamouli a feel for it early, but it did not hand him a career. He spent time at AVM recording theatre in Chennai, learning the technical side of production. He then worked under director Kranthi Kumar before landing what became his most important apprenticeship, under veteran director and producer K. Raghavendra Rao, the man who would eventually give him his first real break. Under …

SS Rajamouli Brings Varanasi’s Spirit to Mexico

SS Rajamouli Brings Varanasi’s Spirit to Mexico

Published by Parlour News

The overseas journey of Varanasi reached a new high at the CCXP Mexico event on Saturday. Crowds at the venue gave a warm reception to the film during its special showcase. This strategic choice to promote in Mexico is a smart move to boost the film’s psychological presence across Latin America. Producer SS Karthikeya represented the team and shared the massive vision of the project with the attendees. Choosing such a popular pop culture festival ensures that the film reaches a discerning audience base, although it doesn’t lead to any concrete outcomes in the immediate future. Varanasi is successfully making its mark on the international stage through consistent promotional efforts. Last year a few popular Hollywood media outlets recorded exclusive interviews with the team to build early curiosity. The Mexico event is a new milestone in this ongoing global campaign. The makers are planning many more international events to keep the momentum going before the release. Each step, it goes without saying, must have been carefully designed to expand the film’s global footprint across different …

The secret Mexican inspiration behind Baahubali’s kingdom revealed as SS Rajamouli teases Varanasi at CCXP Mexico | Telugu News

The secret Mexican inspiration behind Baahubali’s kingdom revealed as SS Rajamouli teases Varanasi at CCXP Mexico | Telugu News

Published by Parlour News

3 min readHyderabadApr 26, 2026 09:43 AM IST Director SS Rajamouli did not travel to Mexico, but his words did find way to reach the audience over there. In a recorded video message played at Comic-Con Experience Mexico 2026’s Thunder Stage, the director of Baahubali and RRR addressed fans directly, touching on architecture, memory, and what it feels like to watch your work land thousands of miles from home. The occasion was the “Varanasi to the World” panel, presented by producer SS Karthikeya. The session offered attendees exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from Varanasi, Rajamouli’s upcoming time-travel action film starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. In his message, SS Rajamouli drew a direct line between Mexico and his own filmmaking history. “Civilisation and its architecture have always intrigued me. In fact, in my film Baahubali, the city center and the throne were inspired by the famous Chichen Itza pyramid,” he said, referring to the iconic pre-Columbian Maya site in the Yucatan Peninsula. The admission is a notable one, and relatively under-discussed: that one of …

Panel of SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi at Mexico Comic Con sees empty seats; internet calls it ’embarrassing’

Panel of SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi at Mexico Comic Con sees empty seats; internet calls it ’embarrassing’

Published by Parlour News

SS Rajamouli’s upcoming film, Varanasi, began its global promotions this week with a panel at CCXP in Mexico, a global pop culture event. SS Karthikeya, one of the producers of the film, spoke about the film on stage at the event and also unveiled never-before-seen footage from the film on Friday. However, visuals from the event show largely empty seats during the film’s panel. Mahesh Babu-starrer Varanasi was showcased at the CCXP in Mexico. Varanasi at CCXP, Mexico CCXP, formerly known as Comic Con Experience, is a global pop culture convention where the biggest films in the world are promoted. This year, Varanasi is joined by heavyweight titles like Avengers: Doomsday and Dune Part Three at the event. The Varanasi panel at the event marks the beginning of the film’s global promotions, months after the first look was unveiled in Hyderabad last year. The panel was moderated by ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley, who spoke with producer SS Karthikeya about the film’s scale and vision. Director SS Rajamouli spoke to the audience via a video message, discussing …

Varanasi Update: Rajamouli Kicks Off Antarctica Schedule, CCXP Event Underway

Varanasi Update: Rajamouli Kicks Off Antarctica Schedule, CCXP Event Underway

Published by Parlour News

The production team of Varanasi has commenced its filming schedule in Antarctica. This phase is not a routine shoot; it is a particularly demanding and intricate operation, possibly involving complex VFX shots. Once these sequences are completed, the project will reach a major milestone. A shift in the production process is expected to follow this phase. Varanasi at CCXP Parallel to the action in Antarctica, the film is entering the international spotlight. A major promotional event is taking place in Mexico City today at CCXP (Comic Con Experience) to introduce the film to global audiences. Renowned filmmaker SS Rajamouli is scheduled to deliver a special recorded address during the event. Attendees will also be shown exclusive behind-the-scenes footage prepared for this occasion. The programme will conclude with an interactive session where the creators engage directly with fans. Speculation remains high regarding the presence of lead star Mahesh Babu at the event. While he participated in an interview late last year, his physical presence today remains unconfirmed. Varanasi, a globe-trotting spectacle Varanasi operates within the globe-trotting …

Prashanth Neel To Join SS Rajamouli & Sujith’s Shared Record With Jr NTR’s Film On The Opening Day!

Prashanth Neel To Join SS Rajamouli & Sujith’s Shared Record With Jr NTR’s Film On The Opening Day!

Published by Webster

Dragon Box Office: Prashanth Neel Beat SS Rajamouli At His Game With Jr NTR’s Film! (Photo Credit: Instagram) Prashanth Neel and Jr NTR are eyeing a historic feat with their upcoming film Dragon, which is arriving in the theaters on June 11, 2027. With his film, Prashanth Neel might aim for a record that no other director of Indian Cinema holds! Being the creator of the KGF & the Salaar universe, the director will be unleashing havoc with this film starring Jr NTR, and he is all set to bring a massive reshuffle at the box office! In all probability, by the time Prashanth Neel and Jr NTR arrive, Sujeeth might have lost this record already! But currently, the director shares one of the biggest opening records with SS Rajamouli! Both these directors, along with Prashanth Neel, hold two spots each in the list of the top 10 biggest openings of Indian Cinema! Dragon Box Office Opening To Change History! Dragon, in all probability, might enter this list, and as soon as it does, Prashanth …