Baahubali producer Shobu Yarlagadda schools x user dismissing AI claims about Varanasi glimpse

Shobu Yarlagadda schools x user dismissing AI claims about Varanasi glimpse

• Baahubali producer denies Varanasi teaser was AI-made, defends artists' work
• Rajamouli says Varanasi's visuals took weeks of manual effort by VFX artists
• Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra, releases April 7, 2027

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Baahubali producer Shobu Yarlagadda has fired back at social media speculation suggesting that the first glimpse of Varanasi — S.S. Rajamouli’s much-anticipated film starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran — could be generated using artificial intelligence (AI). The rebuttal comes after an X (formerly Twitter) user asserted that, by the time the movie releases, anyone might be able to produce similar visuals from a laptop using AI tools.

The speculation reignited a broader online debate about the role of AI in filmmaking. In a previous interview, Rajamouli had explained that creating the three-minute glimpse took weeks of intensive work by his visual effects team, with artists rendering every single frame — some taking up to 20 hours — to achieve the desired look. He emphasised that to label the teaser AI-generated would be “a huge insult to their artistic genius.”

Responding to him, Shobu wrote, “From your tweet I can say this.."By the release of Varanasi, AI video Gen will be so advanced that you can create Varanasi glimpse from your laptop using Higgsfield/Kling or directly from @grok Imagine." The above will be trash and an insult to the artists.”

Thinking AI generated as an insult will look funny when we look back 5 years from now. By the release of Varanasi, AI video Gen will be so advanced that you can create Varanasi glimpse from your laptop using Higgsfield/Kling or directly from @grok Imagine. AI will be another… https://t.co/gQU4ECMfOg

— Santosh Eppalapally (@santoshimz) February 4, 2026

He also added, “AI will be another tool for VFX artists and will be the first tool for pre visualization saving hours of manual work, more faster iterations. Your next statement above is true and will help artists create high-quality content faster. You are talking about two absolutely different things in the same breath.”

Responding directly to the X user’s post, he wrote, “Thinking AI generated as an insult will look funny when we look back 5 years from now. By the release of Varanasi, AI video Gen will be so advanced that you can create Varanasi glimpse from your laptop using Higgsfield/Kling or directly from @grok Imagine. AI will be another tool for VFX artists and will be the first tool for pre visualization saving hours of manual work, more faster iterations.”

Also read: Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra starrer Varanasi to be ‘one part film’ with 3-hour runtime, confirms SS Rajamouli

Rajamouli’s film, which has been creating buzz since its first glimpse dropped late last year, is shaping up to be one of Indian cinema’s most ambitious projects. The movie expands on Rajamouli’s reputation for delivering grand, visually spectacular films, building on his success with Baahubali and RRR. Starring Mahesh Babu in the lead role along with Priyanka Chopra — marking her significant return to Indian cinema — Varanasi is scheduled to release in theatres on April 7, 2027.