Mahesh-Rajamouli's Varanasi Set to Resume Shooting After Water Crisis Speculation

The much-anticipated collaboration between Superstar Mahesh Babu and maverick director SS Rajamouli is back on track, with Varanasi gearing up for its next shooting schedule from May 12. This comes after days of speculation about production delays due to Hyderabad's acute water shortage.

The pan-world adventure drama has been making steady progress across multiple locations, including key schedules in Hyderabad and international destinations. The upcoming schedule will feature crucial scenes with Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and the main cast, indicating that the production team has found ways to navigate recent challenges.

Social media was abuzz last week with reports claiming the film's Hyderabad schedule faced delays due to the city's severe summer water crisis. Industry sources suggested the production required approximately 150 water tankers for elaborate sets and high-octane action sequences. With the Water Board reportedly unable to meet such massive demands during peak summer, speculation grew about potential production hiccups.

Hyderabad's water shortage has indeed affected multiple areas of the city, with authorities prioritizing civilian needs over commercial requirements. This naturally led to concerns about whether big-budget productions like Varanasi would face operational challenges.

However, the announcement of the May 12 schedule suggests the production house has either resolved the water supply issue or adapted their shooting plans accordingly. What remains unclear is whether the team will proceed with originally planned large-scale sequences or pivot to scenes requiring minimal water usage.

Meanwhile, the film's international promotional activities continue at full throttle. Following a special making video showcase in Mexico, the team is reportedly planning exclusive promotional events in France, underlining the project's global ambitions.

This modern adventure retelling of select Ramayana episodes represents one of Telugu cinema's most ambitious projects. Given Rajamouli's track record with Baahubali and RRR, industry expectations remain sky-high despite these minor production challenges. The May 12 restart will be closely watched as a indicator of how smoothly the project can navigate future logistical hurdles while maintaining its planned scale and vision.