Varanasi Movie Fees: Priyanka’s Big Pay vs Mahesh’s Zero Salary

Priyanka Chopra, Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj’s Salary Breakdown

The star cast of Varanasi—Priyanka Chopra, Mahesh Babu, and Prithviraj Sukumaran—has created a massive buzz after coming together for SS Rajamouli’s next mega project. The grand trailer launch in Hyderabad’s Ramoji Film City confirmed the film’s title, and ever since, fans have been curious about how much the lead actors are getting paid.

Image source: IG/priyankachopra

Priyanka Chopra reportedly charging ₹30 crore?

Priyanka Chopra is teaming up with SS Rajamouli for the first time in Varanasi, earlier known as SSMB29. According to a report by KoiMoi, Priyanka has asked for a massive ₹30 crore as her fee, placing her among the highest-paid actresses Rajamouli has ever worked with.
For comparison, Alia Bhatt was paid ₹9 crore for RRR, while Anushka Shetty earned ₹5 crore for Baahubali. With this new figure, Priyanka may surpass Deepika Padukone, who has so far been one of the highest-earning actresses in Indian cinema.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)

Mahesh Babu taking zero salary?

Surprisingly, reports suggest that Mahesh Babu and Rajamouli have decided not to take their regular salaries. Instead, both will opt for a 40% profit-sharing agreement with the producers.
The idea behind this major decision is to create a long-standing legacy with Varanasi. This means Mahesh Babu will officially receive no upfront salary—his entire income will depend on how well the film performs at the box office.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)

What about Prithviraj Sukumaran’s fee?

So far, no confirmed information has been released about Prithviraj Sukumaran’s payment. While Priyanka’s global stardom brings huge value, neither the makers nor the actors have publicly confirmed any salary details for the supporting cast.

Varanasi made on a ₹100-crore budget?

According to reports, Varanasi has been produced on an estimated budget of ₹100 crore, placing it among India’s high-budget films. The movie may even surpass Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayan in scale and production cost.

A source shared that Rajamouli stayed true to his long-standing promise to producers D. V. V. Danayya and Narayana K. L., made before the release of Baahubali. After completing SSMB29 (Varanasi), Rajamouli reportedly plans to become a solo producer for all his upcoming films.

Teaser glimpse: A powerful start

The teaser opens with visuals of Varanasi in 512 CE, where saints perform a yagna. The scene shifts to Lord Hanuman destroying Ravan’s Lanka. In a dramatic entry, Mahesh Babu appears in a blood-soaked shirt, holding a trishul and riding a bull—hinting at a mythological-inspired action epic.