ప్రారంభమైన ఖైరతాబాద్ గణేశుడి శోభాయాత్ర l Khairatabad Ganesh Shobha Yatra 2021 l

The ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States are causing widespread global uncertainty, with international travel and trade sectors taking a major hit. This situation is now reportedly impacting the shooting schedule of Mahesh Babu and S.S. Rajamouli’s ambitious project Varanasi.

The film had planned an extensive international schedule, with key sequences originally set to be shot across multiple global locations. However, rising concerns over safety and restricted flight operations—particularly in regions like Dubai and parts of the Middle East—have made international travel increasingly difficult at this time.

Given the scale of the production and the presence of top stars like Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and others, the makers are cautious about any risk of the cast and crew being stranded abroad. As a result, the planned overseas schedule has reportedly been put on hold indefinitely.

Instead, the team is considering shifting the shoot to controlled domestic setups in Hyderabad, including large-scale water action sets similar to those used for Devara. This alternative plan is expected to keep the production moving forward without compromising safety.

Meanwhile, the team continues to monitor the global situation closely and may resume international filming once conditions stabilize. Although several portions have already been filmed in locations such as Antarctica and Africa, the makers are now temporarily relying on studio and local set work to avoid delays.

Director Rajamouli, known for his preference for real locations and authenticity, may revisit certain sequences later if required. However, for now, the focus remains on completing the schedule safely and efficiently under the current global constraints.