Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ return to Indian cinema is shaping up to be as ambitious as it is time-consuming. Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the global star opened up about the sheer scale of SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi, revealing that the production has already stretched across 14 months, with a significant schedule still ahead.
What makes the update even more striking is that Priyanka is not just talking about a big-budget spectacle, she is describing an endurance test, one that underlines why Rajamouli’s projects are often spoken about as once-in-a-career experiences for actors.
The Latest Update From Priyanka Chopra Jonas
On the show, Priyanka spoke about the excitement of coming back to an Indian set after a long gap and named the film outright. “I haven’t done an Indian movie in almost like six or seven years and this movie is called Varanasi and it is directed by SS Rajamouli, who’s one of India’s most amazingly talented directors and it’s gonna be an adventure. I’m very excited about it. It will be released on April 7, 2027. We’ve shot in IMAX format. So it’s going to be for IMAX theatres. It’s gonna be great,” she said.
When Jimmy Fallon asked if the film was still shooting, Priyanka gave a candid status check that instantly put the timeline in perspective: “Yes. Oh my god. We’ve been filming for 14 months. We are still filming for another six months.”
The long schedule had also been referenced earlier by Nick Jonas, who said Priyanka had been shooting for the last 14 months on and off, calling the film “incredible.”
What We Know About Varanasi So Far
Varanasi is directed by SS Rajamouli and stars Mahesh Babu alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film is mounted as a theatrical event and is being shot in IMAX format for IMAX screens. The makers have locked April 7, 2027, for its worldwide theatrical release.
The official title Varanasi was unveiled by Rajamouli at an event in Hyderabad in November 2025, and Priyanka’s latest comments now give the clearest sense yet of how extensive the filmmaking process is behind the scenes.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ Recent And Upcoming Work
In the last few years, Priyanka has focused heavily on international projects while maintaining a strong crossover profile. She headlined the action series Citadel (2023) on Prime Video and starred in the romantic drama Love Again (2023). Most recently, she has been promoting The Bluff, which premiered in February 2026 and began streaming on Prime Video.
On the horizon, her biggest confirmed theatrical return to India is Varanasi, positioned as a major tentpole with SS Rajamouli, and currently deep into production as of February 2026.
(Also read: Ideas Of India 2026: Shah Rukh Khan’s Message To The Youth Is All About Courage, Sacrifice And Relentless Enthusiasm)
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