Do you know Varanasi is not Priyanka Chopra’s first Telugu film?
As the buzz is increasing in Varanasi, questions are being raised again on Priyanka Chopra’s Telugu film debut. That’s why his “debut” Telugu journey is not as straightforward as it seems.
Actress Priyanka Chopra’s Telugu film debut has suddenly become the talk of the town again – and no, Varanasi Technically this is not his first exposure to the industry. As anticipation grows for SS Rajamouli’s ambitious new project, the actor’s Telugu filmography is being revisited, reopening an old question of fans that was already resolved.
Whereas Varanasi It is widely being touted as Chopra’s Telugu debut, but the truth is far from that. Much before Rajamouli’s call, she had signed a Telugu film and had also shot for it. aparupam. the only difference? The audience never got to see this.
So why is Varanasi still called his first film?
aparupamDirected by GS Ravikumar, it marked Chopra’s entry into Telugu cinema in the early 2000s. The film starred Madhukar and Prasanna alongside him and promotional material was also released at that time. However, financial problems halted the project midway. Production ultimately shut down, post-production never resumed, and the film was quietly shelved before seeing theatrical or commercial release.
Because aparupam never reached the audience, Varanasi It is now being considered as Chopra’s “official” Telugu debut – a distinction that depends more on release than participation.
What did Priyanka Chopra and Mahesh Babu say about this?
Confusion once again arose during recent promotional interviews. Varanasi. Mahesh Babu clearly rejected the idea of a prior Telugu outing, saying, “He has not done that. This is his first Telugu film.” Chopra, for her part, acknowledged the ambiguity and candidly replied, “It’s complicated.”
Laughing off the debate in another conversation, after Chopra admitted that he has not done a Telugu film which the audience has actually watched, Mahesh Babu once again jumped in to highlight the issue.
Why does this debut matter so much?
For Chopra, Varanasi It represents more than any other Indian film – it is the formal introduction to one of the country’s most dedicated film audiences. Speaking about the overwhelming response to the film’s first look and character reveals, he highlighted the unique affection shown by Telugu cinema fans towards their stars and described the initial reception as “really amazing”.
Directed by SS Rajamouli and supported by music by MM Keeravani, Varanasi In this, Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the role of the antagonist Kumbha, while Mahesh Babu plays the role of Rudra. Chopra plays the role of Mandakini, which is her first Telugu appearance that the audience will finally experience on screen. The film is scheduled to release on April 7, 2027.
so until Varanasi On paper, this may not be Priyanka Chopra’s first Telugu film, but it will be the first one that actually matters.