'Varanasi' budget rumors quashed; SS Rajamouli reportedly keeping it flexible
What's the story
The upcoming action-adventure film Varanasi, directed by SS Rajamouli and starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, has been the talk of the town. And, recent reports claiming a budget of ₹1,200-1,300 crore for the film have been dismissed as false. According to Telugu 360, Rajamouli has yet to finalize a budget for Varanasi.
Director's approach
Rajamouli prioritizes creative freedom over fixed budget
The report further states that instead of a fixed budget, Rajamouli has requested complete creative freedom from the producer. A significant portion of the film's budget will be allocated to high-quality VFX work, with several top Hollywood studios already collaborating on it. Meanwhile, Rajamouli is known for his unconventional profit-sharing model. Instead of a hefty director's fee, he prefers a smaller upfront payment and 50% of the profits post-release.
Profit-sharing model
'Varanasi's release strategy
After the producers recover their investment, they share half of the remaining global earnings. The Varanasi team is confident about the film's box office performance. Sources suggest that they expect to recover their investment through non-theatrical revenue (digital, satellite, and music rights) and Indian theatrical earnings alone. Any earnings from international markets before the film's theatrical release will be considered pure profit. The film is expected to release in 2027.