Global star Priyanka Chopra Jonas is all set to make her much-awaited return to Indian cinema with SS Rajamouli’s ambitious project Varanasi. Ever since the film was announced, it has been making headlines for its massive scale and reported Rs 1300 crore budget, making it one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. Recently, Priyanka appeared as the first guest on the new season of Netflix’s The Great Indian Kapil Show, where she spoke about the film’s budget and cheekily responded to questions about her remuneration.
During her fun-filled conversation with Kapil Sharma, Priyanka confirmed that the reports about Varanasi being made on a Rs 1300 crore budget are indeed true. The revelation left both the audience and Kapil visibly stunned. Kapil pointed out that everything Priyanka does tends to be larger than life and joked about her association with big-budget projects. He said,“Even when she does a film, it is with Rajamouli sir, and we know that he makes big budget films.” Priyanka responded with a smile and simply said “Haan (Yes)”, indirectly confirming the jaw-dropping budget.
As the banter continued, Kapil Sharma jokingly suggested that Priyanka’s entry into Varanasi may have caused the budget to shoot up. He further teased her by saying that he had heard the budget increased once she came on board. Taking the joke in stride, Priyanka laughed and replied with wit, asking, “Are you trying to say that half the budget has gone into my bank account?” When Kapil playfully insisted, she shot back with another humorous response, “Matlab aap ulta naak pakadne ki koshish kar rahe hain?” Her quick and confident replies won loud cheers from the audience.
About Varanasi Movie
For those unaware, Varanasi currently ranks among the most expensive Indian films ever made, second only to Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1, which reportedly carries a budget of Rs 2000 crore. Within the Telugu film industry, Varanasi stands as SS Rajamouli’s costliest project to date. The film was officially announced at a grand event held at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad on November 15, 2025, where the makers unveiled the title, cast, teaser and first looks.
Varanasi stars Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra as Mandakini, and Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha. The film quietly went on floors in January 2025 and is described as a large-scale adventure drama spanning continents and timelines. The film is slated to release during Sankranthi 2027, and expectations are sky-high given Rajamouli’s track record with films like Baahubali and RRR.