Mumbai: The silver screen is set for a seismic collision as Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu and global icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas unite for the first time in SS Rajamouli’s ambitious magnum opus, Varanasi.
Unveiled amid fan frenzy at a glittering title launch here on Saturday, the film — earlier codenamed SSMB29 — boasts a staggering ₹1,000 crore budget, positioning it among India’s costliest cinematic ventures and amplifying the pressure on its stellar leads to deliver blockbuster magic.
Rajamouli, the visionary behind Baahubali and RRR, promises an epic saga that blends grandeur with emotional depth, though plot specifics remain shrouded in secrecy. For Babu, the 50-year-old Tollywood titan revered for his pan-India appeal, this marks a high-stakes pivot post-Guntur Kaaram. Chopra, who began her career in Tamil cinema before soaring to fame in Bollywood and Hollywood, brings her multifaceted charisma, fresh off the acclaim of Citadel.
Yet, beyond the reels, a fascinating financial face-off emerges. Mahesh Babu’s net worth hovers around ₹300 crore, bolstered by per-film fees of ₹60–80 crore and lucrative endorsements. His lavish lifestyle gleams with a ₹30 crore Jubilee Hills mansion, a vanity van at ₹6.5 crore, and a garage boasting a ₹3 crore Lamborghini Gallardo alongside Range Rovers and Audis.
Priyanka, however, eclipses him with a commanding ₹650 crore fortune — more than double — fuelled by Hollywood royalties, production ventures, and her ₹30 crore payday for Varanasi. Her assets sparkle brighter: a swanky New York penthouse shared with husband Nick Jonas and a fleet including a ₹2.5 crore Rolls-Royce, Porsche, and Mercedes S-Class.
As Varanasi gears up for a 2027 release, this star duo’s wealth disparity underscores Bollywood’s evolving pecking order, where global savvy often trumps regional reign. Will their on-screen alchemy translate to box-office gold? The anticipation is palpable.