Summer woes are no longer sparing film sets. With Hyderabad grappling with an acute water shortage, even big-ticket productions are feeling the heat. In upscale areas like Manikonda, Narsingi, and Gandpet, residents are already relying on multiple water tankers daily. Amid this crisis, reports say the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Board declined a request for 150 water tankers sought for a major film shoot featuring Mahesh Babu and director S. S. Rajamouli.

The film, tentatively titled Varanasi, was initially planned to shoot elaborate underwater sequences on a massive temple-city set built in Hyderabad. Those scenes required the set to be submerged, but with water supply approvals not coming through, the makers are now reportedly planning to relocate the shoot to Uttar Pradesh. Locations such as Varanasi and Prayagraj are being considered, where water availability is not as severe.

With key actors including Priyanka Chopra already in Hyderabad for the schedule, the team is keen to avoid costly delays. Sources suggest the makers prefer an immediate shift rather than waiting indefinitely for water clearance. Fresh sets are expected to be constructed in Varanasi and Prayagraj to facilitate the shoot.

Meanwhile, the release date is locked for April 7, 2027, and Rajamouli is said to be determined to wrap schedules on time, no matter the logistical hurdles. Whether the film will arrive as a single release or be split into two parts remains unclear, but industry buzz around a two-part globe-trotting spectacle continues to grow.