Filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s relentless pursuit of perfection has once again made headlines. Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran recently shared an astonishing account from the sets of Rajamouli’s upcoming film, ‘Varanasi’, detailing how the acclaimed director insisted on nearly 100 takes for a single scene.
Key Points
Prithviraj Sukumaran revealed SS Rajamouli demanded nearly 100 takes for one scene.
The demanding shoot for the film 'Varanasi' stretched from morning till evening.
Fans praised Rajamouli's perfectionism, linking it to his cinematic success.
The upcoming film 'Varanasi' stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj.
Rajamouli’s Relentless Pursuit of Perfection
In Varanasi, SS Rajamouli demanded perfection, with Prithviraj Sukumaran recounting an exhausting shooting day on set.
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.
The Grueling Varanasi Shoot: A Day of 100 Takes
He added, “And by the time the second bite of food is in the mouth, he said, the shot is ready. And we went back, we started again. 6:37, and we are still trying and our executive producer is signalling him (it’s time to wrap). And then he is like okay pack up, we will do this tomorrow morning. It’s actually happened, it’s a real day of shooting in Varanasi.”
The clip surfaced on Reddit, with fans reacting to Rajamouli’s relentless pursuit of perfection. One user wrote, “Imagine the pressure on his crew, he would be a monster on set. But it is what it is. He’s delivering the best only because he is like that.” Another commented, “They’re charging crores in remuneration, aren’t they? So it’s good to see that they’re not compromising. If you ask me, considering the kind of budgets these films have, this is the bare minimum they should be doing. Nice to see. HYPEDDD!” Another user wrote, “There has to be sweat and blood. They’re taking home crores in remuneration, after all. SSR (S. S. Rajamouli) is basically saying: ‘I’ll make you sweat blood for those action scenes.'”
Fan Reactions: Pressure vs. Cinematic Excellence
Last year, Rajamouli unveiled the film’s first look at an event at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, offering a glimpse into a story that spans continents and eras. During an interview in the US, Mahesh Babu revealed that, apart from playing the protagonist Rudhra, he also portrays Lord Rama in the film’s flashback sequences. Varanasi is scheduled to release in theatres in April 2027.
This incident underscores Rajamouli’s unwavering commitment to cinematic excellence, a trait that consistently delivers groundbreaking films. While demanding, his perfectionism is clearly what sets his projects apart, raising anticipation for ‘Varanasi’ even higher.
