In a rare and unexpected move, S. S. Rajamouli has taken his next most anticipated film somewhere no Indian production has gone before, Antarctica.

His upcoming epic Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, has become the first Indian film to shoot on the frozen continent. 

Globally, only three feature films, South of Sanity, The Odyssey, and Virus, have filmed scenes there.

Now Rajamouli’s team has reportedly also captured the Ross Ice Shelf on screen, something no film has done before.

The scale is massive. The story is said to follow Rudhra, played by Mahesh Babu, as the city of Varanasi faces the threat of an asteroid. 

The plot moves across timelines and continents, from Africa to the icy south.

This came as fans began connecting the dots after a social media exchange. 

The 50-year-old actor praised the 43-year-old actress’s recent project, writing: “#TheBluff is a well mounted film with engaging action n emotions !!! @priyankachopra is in top form swashbuckling and ticking all the boxes with a packed performance… Sending all my love to the team for the amazing work.”

The Dostana actor replied, “Thank you my friend.” Then she added: “See you soon in Antarctica. @urstrulyMahesh,” and that was enough to set fans buzzing.

The teaser had already shown a giant ship trapped in an iceberg. Now the icy location is confirmed.

Shot partly in Kenya and mounted in the 1.43:1 IMAX format, the film is aiming big. Currently in production, Rajamouli is expected to continue shooting for another six months before the film moves into post-production.

Varanasi is slated for a theatrical release on April 7, 2027, coinciding with the festival of Ugadi.