SS Karthikeya recalls ‘Varanasi’ event glitch: ‘I felt like crying’

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SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi is being mounted as a large-scale action adventure featuring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film’s November 2025 title and first-look event in Hyderabad was planned as an elaborate spectacle, but a technical glitch disrupted the proceedings and left the team under considerable pressure.SS Rajamouli’s son and producer SS Karthikeya has now opened up about what happened backstage, recalling that he became emotional while the team tried to get the presentation working.

SS Karthikeya recalls ‘Varanasi’ event glitch: ‘To be honest, I felt like crying’

During a promotional video with anchor Suma and actor Fahadh Faasil for the film ‘Don’t Trouble The Trouble’, Suma recalled working at the ‘Varanasi’ event and asked Karthikeya how he felt when the technical glitch occurred. The producer admitted that the atmosphere backstage became extremely stressful.“It was like a war room inside the tent. To be honest, I felt like crying. I got emotional, angry, with I don’t know whom. It was nobody’s mistake,” Karthikeya said.He explained that the team had not been able to properly test the setup beforehand because drones were flying over the venue through the night. According to him, the technical team itself was highly experienced, and the problem was not a matter of using the wrong format.

“Technically, we have a very strong team. It was not that we had it in the wrong format or anything. It’s just that we needed to test it beforehand,” he recalled.Karthikeya further described his reaction when the presentation finally played after repeated attempts. “But when it played the third time, I yelled like Nani from Jersey. No exaggeration,” he said.

Suma says several members of the ‘Varanasi’ team were in tears

The technical problem was apparently stressful not just for Karthikeya but for several people involved in the event.

Suma recalled that Rajamouli’s wife Rama Rajamouli was also emotional during the wait.“Rama garu was in tears. Most of the people were in tears. I was in tears. It felt like we had launched a rocket, like ISRO. The pre-release had all the emotions of the cinema,” Suma said.Karthikeya also remembered the moment Rajamouli eventually took the stage. According to him, the filmmaker’s voice reflected the tension of the situation, while Namrata Shirodkar was praying.“Baba also, when he took the stage, you could see his voice was a little… Namrata ma’am was praying,” Karthikeya recalled.The title event had been designed as a major unveiling for the film, which was then being referred to as Globetrotter. The makers officially revealed Varanasi as the title at the November 2025 event in Hyderabad.

Suma recalls staying with Rama Rajamouli during the tense moment

Suma also shared a lighter detail from the stressful evening. She said she stayed with Rama Rajamouli while the technical team worked on resolving the issue, continuing to speak to her because she had little else to do.“The only person happily going around was me. I was with Rama garu, and she got irritated. I was like, I have no other option, please talk to me. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that event,” Suma said.The incident ultimately became a memorable behind-the-scenes chapter of an event that was otherwise designed around the scale and spectacle associated with Rajamouli’s films.

What is ‘Varanasi’ about?

Varanasi is directed by SS Rajamouli and stars Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha.

The film is being described as a globe-trotting action adventure with science-fiction elements and a storyline that spans different locations and time periods. According to the recently reported synopsis, the story is set in 2027, when a massive asteroid named Shambhavi threatens Varanasi.

Rudhra, described as an archaeologist and explorer, embarks on a mission to recover an ancient artefact that could hold the key to stopping the catastrophe.

Mandakini joins him, while Kumbha pursues them across their journey. The film is expected to move across locations including Africa, Antarctica and Europe, while also incorporating sequences set in the ancient past. Rajamouli has previously indicated that the film includes a significant mythological-period segment.

When will SS Rajamouli’s ‘Varanasi’ release?

The makers have officially announced that Varanasi will arrive in theatres worldwide on April 7, 2027. The film is backed by KL Narayana, with SS Karthikeya also serving as producer under Showing Business. With Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran in the principal cast, Varanasi is among the major Indian theatrical releases lined up for 2027. The film is expected to combine Rajamouli’s large-scale action spectacle with mythology, science fiction and a globe-spanning adventure.