Will SS Rajamouli make a Hollywood film? Yes, but not yet. At the 50th São Paulo International Film Festival, Rajamouli said he got many Hollywood offers after RRR, some are still open, and he would love to direct at least one. He will consider them only after finishing Varanasi, which releases on April 7, 2027.
I saw “RRR” and “Rajamouli” pop up on Google Trends in India this weekend, mostly from Telugu searches, and the reason is simple. The man who took Naatu Naatu to the Oscars has finally spoken openly about Hollywood. Fans are now asking one thing: is his next film after Varanasi going to be an American project? Here is what he actually said, what is confirmed, and what is still just fan talk.
What Rajamouli Said About Hollywood
Rajamouli was in Brazil for the 50th São Paulo International Film Festival. In a chat with the Brazilian outlet Omelete, he was asked if a Hollywood project is on the cards. He did not dodge the question.
According to Variety India, he said: “There were many offers, and some of them are still open. I want to make a film in Hollywood, at least one, because they have a wonderful work ethic and structure, from which I could learn a lot.”
He also explained why he did not take those offers earlier. When RRR released in 2022 and the calls started coming, Varanasi was already underway. And he made it clear he is not someone who juggles films. In his words, he needs to completely finish one project before focusing on the next. “When Varanasi is ready, I will consider that angle.”
So the honest reading is this: Rajamouli is open to Hollywood, he likes how they work, and there are live offers on the table. But nothing is signed or announced. His focus right now is 100% on Varanasi.
Is a Hollywood film confirmed?
No. As of October 25, 2026, there is no confirmed Hollywood project. No studio, no title, no cast and no date has been announced. Some Telugu websites and social media pages are calling his next film a Hollywood one already, but that is speculation. He only said he will “consider” the offers once Varanasi is done.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Where he said it: 50th São Paulo International Film Festival, Brazil (interview with Omelete)
- What he said: Many Hollywood offers came after RRR; some are still open; he wants to do at least one Hollywood film
- When: Only after Varanasi is complete
- Hollywood film status: Not confirmed, no studio or title announced
- Current film: Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran
- Varanasi release date: April 7, 2027 (worldwide)
- Format: Shot for IMAX, one single film of about three hours
- Shooting days: About 275, compared with 315 for RRR (as per Rajamouli)
Why Varanasi Comes First
If you have followed Rajamouli for a while, this answer will not surprise you. He took about five years over the two Baahubali films and then spent years on RRR. He does one film at a time and goes all in.
Varanasi is his biggest bet yet. At the same festival, he said the film is roughly five to six times bigger than RRR in scale. As reported by News18, he said: “We shot RRR in 315 days and Varanasi, despite being bigger, in 275 days, saving 40 days.” He credited the extra planning and paperwork he did before filming started.
One small thing to note here. Some Telugu outlets like TV9 Telugu and NTV reported him saying that only around 10 days of shooting are left. So I would treat the final wrap as “very close” rather than officially announced.
What is Varanasi about?
From what the makers and Rajamouli have shared so far, the story revolves around a huge asteroid that threatens the city of Varanasi. Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, an explorer pulled into a mission to recover an ancient artefact. Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Mandakini, and Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the villain Kumbha.
The journey goes from Varanasi to Antarctica, then Africa, back in time to Ancient Rome, and finally home to Varanasi. Rajamouli has also said the film is the first non-English film to be shot entirely in IMAX, as covered by The Indian Express. The title was unveiled at a big “Globetrotter” event at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, on November 15, 2025.
Why Hollywood Keeps Chasing Rajamouli
This is not random hype. Here is why studios are interested:
- Baahubali showed that an Indian film could become a huge pan-India and overseas hit.
- RRR went global, grossed over ₹1,200 crore worldwide, and became a favourite with Western audiences on streaming.
- Naatu Naatu won the Oscar for Best Original Song in March 2023, a first for an Indian film’s song.
- He sells spectacle. His films are built for big screens, which is exactly what studios and premium formats like IMAX want right now.
Put simply, he is one of the very few Indian directors whose name alone travels abroad. So it makes sense that offers came in, and that some are still waiting for him.
What This Means for Fans
For Indian fans, especially Telugu audiences, there are two takeaways.
First, Varanasi is not being rushed. Rajamouli is not splitting his time, so the film gets his full attention. That is good news if you are waiting for April 2027.
Second, a Rajamouli Hollywood film is realistic, but it is at least a couple of years away. Even if he signs something soon after Varanasi releases, writing and pre-production alone take a long time with him. A realistic guess (my guess, not his) would be an announcement sometime after mid-2027 at the earliest.
Also, how Varanasi performs worldwide will matter. A strong global run would give him a lot more say in any Hollywood deal. If you follow box office numbers, you may like my breakdown of Jailer 2’s worldwide box office collection, which shows how big South Indian films have become.
Confirmed vs Not Confirmed
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Rajamouli has Hollywood offers | Confirmed (his own words) |
| He wants to make at least one Hollywood film | Confirmed |
| His next film after Varanasi is a Hollywood film | Not confirmed |
| Studio, title or cast of a Hollywood project | Not announced |
| Varanasi release on April 7, 2027 | Confirmed by makers |
| Varanasi shoot fully wrapped | Not officially announced (reported as nearly done) |
FAQs
Is SS Rajamouli making a Hollywood movie?
He wants to. He said he has several Hollywood offers and would love to direct at least one film there. But no Hollywood project has been announced yet.
When will Rajamouli do a Hollywood film?
Only after Varanasi is finished. He said he works on one film at a time and will consider Hollywood offers once Varanasi is ready.
Where did Rajamouli talk about Hollywood?
At the 50th São Paulo International Film Festival in Brazil, in an interview with the Brazilian outlet Omelete, in October 2026.
What is the release date of Varanasi?
Varanasi is set to release worldwide in theatres on April 7, 2027.
Who is in the Varanasi cast?
Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Mandakini, and Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the villain Kumbha. Prakash Raj is also part of the cast.
Is Varanasi coming in two parts?
No. Rajamouli has said it will release as a single film of roughly three hours.
Final Thoughts
I like how straight Rajamouli was about this. He did not tease a fake announcement or hype up a secret project. He simply said Hollywood interests him, the offers are real, and Varanasi comes first. For now, that is the full story. I will update this post if he or any studio announces a Hollywood film.