Have you heard? SS Rajamouli reveals Varanasi will wrap filming by October

Prithviraj Sukumaran, Priyanka Chopra, Mahesh Babu

‘Varanasi' heading for finish line

SS Rajamouli is racing towards the finish line. The filmmaker has revealed that the biggest spectacle-driven action sequences for his ambitious next, Varanasi, are already in the can. The team is now filming the smaller connecting scenes and expects to wrap principal photography by September or early October. Set across thousands of years, Varanasi follows the ancient city as it confronts an asteroid threat. The film, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, is being shot partly on 70mm IMAX film. "All the important big spectacle action sequences are done," said Rajamouli, adding that the film was conceived for the IMAX format "from the beginning" rather than adapted for it.

What Rajamouli said about ‘Baahubali'

SS Rajamouli

Rajamouli believes expanding the ‘Baahubali' universe is the natural next step because "a whole world" of the franchise already exists. He added that once director Ishan Shukla proved he understood its characters, he "stepped back" and let the team take charge of ‘Baahubali: The Eternal War'.

Forgive and forget

Saif Ali Khan is choosing peace over bitterness. Reflecting on the knife attack he survived in January 2025, the actor told Mojo Story that he genuinely believed he was going to die. While his first thought was that he had lived a good life with no regrets, he quickly pushed that feeling aside. Looking back, Saif now says he wants to forgive the intruder and move on. "I want to forgive this guy because I think he made a huge mistake, and I don't think he was even looking for a fight. I probably shouldn't have jumped him. I could have talked him out of it, and it could have been all right. Now he's probably going to spend a long time in jail. I would be happy to forgive him."

Moving from old to new

Salman Khan at Galaxy Apartments. Pics/Instagram, Yogen Shah, AFP

After more than five decades, the Khan family is finally set to bid goodbye to the iconic Galaxy Apartments. Salman Khan is reportedly building a six-storey sea-facing bungalow in Bandra's Chimbai area. The family has lived in the building since 1974, though Salman, his father-veteran writer Salim Khan, and mother Salma Khan have continued to stay in the modest one-bedroom apartment. On June 16, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority cleared the family's proposal for the new residence, just a few metres from Galaxy Apartments. Industry insiders believe the move is driven largely by the repeated threats to Salman's life, and the promise of tighter security.