Priyanka Chopra’s ‘One Request’ Before Saying Yes To SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi — And Mahesh Babu Was The One Who Paid The Price

The actor returns to Indian cinema after seven years with a condition that reshaped the film’s most talked-about sequence.

Top Summary

What happened: Priyanka Chopra revealed she agreed to work with SS Rajamouli on Varanasi only after making one special request.

Why it matters now: The film marks Priyanka’s big return to Indian cinema after seven years, making every detail of her comeback highly anticipated.

What changes for people: Fans can expect a full-fledged dance number, something Chopra insisted on — reshaping Rajamouli’s plan and affecting co-star Mahesh Babu.

Who is affected: Bollywood and Tollywood fans, team Varanasi, and audiences following Priyanka’s India comeback.

Priyanka Chopra’s long-awaited homecoming to Indian cinema comes with a twist: she said yes to SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi only after asking him to make her dance — a request the filmmaker wasn’t initially planning for.

‘Make me dance’ — Priyanka’s only condition

In her interview with CinemaBlend, Priyanka said her biggest wish for an Indian comeback was simple:

she wanted a classic Indian dance number.

She told Rajamouli she missed doing Indian-style songs during her Hollywood years, and felt a dance sequence would reconnect her with audiences who haven’t seen her on screen locally for nearly a decade.

Rajamouli agreed — but the shift meant rewriting parts of the film’s structure.

Mahesh Babu “had to pay the price”

Mahesh Babu later joked that Priyanka’s request ended up creating extra pressure on him.

He confirmed that the resulting dance number is “sensational”, but admitted he had to match her intensity, energy, and global experience.

The actor reportedly spent additional rehearsal hours after Rajamouli expanded the choreography to match Priyanka’s vision.

Industry insiders say the dance track has now become one of the film’s centerpieces — something neither Rajamouli nor Mahesh Babu initially anticipated.

Why this comeback matters

Priyanka hasn’t acted in an Indian theatrical film since 2019, and her return signals:

A renewed collaboration between Bollywood and South Indian cinema

Rajamouli’s attempt to blend global star power with regional storytelling

A film designed for pan-India and international appeal

Varanasi is being positioned as one of Rajamouli’s most ambitious narrative worlds, with Chopra’s presence expected to boost global visibility.