Priyanka Chopra, Mahesh Babu's SMB29 shoot in Kenya cancelled due to political turmoil, team likely to film in Tanzania: Report

SSMB29 features Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran in lead roles.

SS Rajamouli’s highly anticipated film SSMB29 starting Priyanka Chopra and Mahesh Babu, has been making headlines since its announcement.

Now, fresh developments surrounding its international shoot have sparked renewed interest.

Recent reports state that the film's planned a shoot in Kenya, but it has been cancelled because of the region's rising public unrest and anti-government protests.

The original plan was for the actors and crew to start shooting in Kenya by mid July. But according to Mid-Day, the filmmakers have decided to put the team's safety first and are currently looking into other foreign locations for the shoot.

According to reports, director Rajamouli is considering Tanzania and South Africa as possible substitutes because they both provide breathtakingly beautiful and under-visited landscapes that complement his style.

A source close to the production told Mid-Day, “Rajamouli sir was clear that he wanted terrains that have rarely been seen on Indian screens. Tanzania’s highlands and parts of South Africa ticked those boxes.”

The production team is currently working on securing filming permits in the new locations, and if approvals come through on time, shooting is expected to commence in South Africa by the third week of July.

SSMB29 features Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran in lead roles. The film is especially significant as it marks the first collaboration between superstar Mahesh Babu and visionary director Rajamouli. Additionally, it signals Priyanka Chopra’s return to Indian cinema after a hiatus, with her last appearance being in The Sky is Pink (2019).

According to Deccan Chronicle, in what is being called one of the largest non-theatrical deals in Indian cinema history, Netflix has acquired the digital streaming rights to SSMB29, which has increased the excitement.

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Encouraged by the worldwide success of Rajamouli's previous blockbuster, RRR, the OTT giant reportedly made an unprecedented offer. Although the deal has not been formally confirmed, industry insiders speculate that Netflix is placing a large wager on SSMB29 to duplicate or even exceed RRR's global success, particularly given the NTR and Ram Charan film's enormous success on the streaming service.

As fans eagerly await more updates, the film continues to remain one of the most talked-about upcoming projects in Indian cinema.