Rajamouli on working with Prabhas, Jr NTR and Mahesh Babu: ‘I don’t choose a star’

Director SS Rajamouli recently discussed his experiences working with stars like Mahesh Babu, Prabhas, Jr NTR, and Ram Charan in an interview with filmmaking students at Penn State University. Rajamouli emphasized that he does not choose actors solely based on their star power, but rather selects those who fit the characters they portray.

For Varanasi, he chose Mahesh Babu, expecting the actor to give his all, and was astonished when the superstar exceeded those expectations by delivering 200 percent of his potential. Rajamouli praised Mahesh Babu's commitment to the role, noting that his performance surpassed all his initial expectations. The upcoming epic adventure, starring Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini, and Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha, is set for release on April 7, 2027, with production involving extensive global shooting, including the first Indian film to shoot in Antarctica.