Ninety Takes for One Shot: The Relentless Perfectionism Behind SS Rajamouli’s 'Varanasi'

Prithviraj Sukumaran reveals the grueling intensity of working on India’s most ambitious cinematic project yet.

The scale of SS Rajamouli’s upcoming magnum opus, Varanasi, is staggering—not just in its reported ₹1200 crore budget, but in the sheer level of obsession required to bring it to life. As fans eagerly await the April 7 release next year, fresh insights from the sets paint a picture of a production where compromise simply doesn't exist. According to a recent interview with actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, who plays the formidable antagonist 'Kumbha' opposite Mahesh Babu’s 'Rudra', the filmmaker’s hunger for perfection remains as sharp as ever.

For the cast, this process is an exercise in endurance. Prithviraj, currently a major talking point across social media, shared that the director often demands a level of precision that pushes actors to their absolute limits. In one specific instance, the team found themselves trapped in a loop of reshoots, eventually clocking between 90 to 97 takes for a single sequence. This isn't just about repetition; it reflects a director who enters the set long before the crew and leaves only after the final light is turned off.

The Rajamouli Method

This primary source account highlights a fascinating dynamic between the director and his actors. Prithviraj admits that there were times when Rajamouli’s internal vision—the "why" behind a specific frame—felt light-years away from his own performance. These were not just rehearsals; they were tactical standoffs of creativity. With lunch breaks restricted to a tight 20-minute window, the atmosphere on set is clearly one of military-grade discipline.

The original article details that the film, produced by K.L. Narayana and S.S. Kartikeya under the Sri Durga Arts banner, features Priyanka Chopra in the lead alongside this high-profile cast. With M.M. Keeravani handling the music, the project is shaping up to be a global spectacle. However, it is the process that distinguishes this film from standard blockbusters. Rajamouli is described by his peers not merely as a director, but as a seasoned actor who understands the nuance of every gesture he asks his leads to perform.

Why It Matters

This level of intensity is what defines the "Rajamouli brand." In an industry that often prioritizes rapid turnarounds, his insistence on nearly 100 takes for one shot signals a shift toward a more exacting, auteur-driven blockbuster culture. It challenges the conventional wisdom that high-budget films are purely products of technology and CGI; instead, it suggests that the human struggle—the friction between director and actor—remains the true engine of cinematic excellence. Whether this exhaustive pursuit of perfection translates into the expected box-office dominance will be the ultimate test of this, the most expensive production in Indian cinema history.