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SS Rajamouli’s highly anticipated ₹1200 crore epic adventure, Varanasi (SSMB29), currently faces a three front crisis. Following its November 2025 title launch, the massive project starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas now battles a major religious dispute, an Intellectual Property (IP) Title Row, and systemic production leaks. These issues currently overwhelm the project.
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1. The Volatile Lord Hanuman Sentiment Controversy
Frustrated by severe technical glitches at the ‘Globetrotter’ event in Hyderabad, Director SS Rajamouli reportedly made a controversial public remark, questioning Lord Hanuman’s protection by asking, “Is this how he leads me?”
- Legal Action: The Rashtriya Vanara Sena and other groups filed a police complaint in Hyderabad, alleging Rajamouli “intentionally insulted Hindu deities” and “provoked religious hatred.”
- Status: Police have confirmed the complaint but have not yet registered a formal FIR. They are investigating the context and intention of the remarks.
- Risk: Given the film’s focus on Kashi and Hindu mythology, this legal dispute poses a significant, long-term risk to its reception in GEO-sensitive markets.
2. Title Row and Financial Dispute: ‘Varanasi’ vs. ‘Vaaranasi’
A parallel intellectual property challenge has emerged concerning the film’s title, ‘Varanasi’.
- The Claim: Another production house, Rama Bramha Hanuma Creations, claims legal rights to the phonetically identical name, ‘Vaaranasi’.
- IP Status: Telugu Film Producers Council records confirm the claimant’s title was registered in 2023 and is renewed until July 2026, covering Rajamouli’s critical marketing window.
- Industry Anticipation: While no formal lawsuit has been filed, experts predict the massive promotional investment already committed to ‘Varanasi’ will necessitate a substantial, unplanned financial settlement (buyout) to secure the name and prevent a costly rename.
| Controversy | Status | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Lord Hanuman Remarks | Complaint filed (Hyderabad PS); Police investigation ongoing | Long-term risk in GEO-sensitive markets. |
| Varanasi Title Row | IP claim registered until July 2026 | Potential for costly financial settlement to secure the name. |
3. Operational Setbacks and Updates
The production has also been plagued by security failures and operational chaos:
Security Breaches: The official title and teaser footage were leaked minutes before the ‘Globetrotter’ event.
Privacy Violation: More damagingly, a private video of Mahesh Babu in his home gym was leaked, allegedly recorded by house maintenance staff.
The film’s first song, Sanchari, now faces plagiarism allegations due to creative similarities with the international track Burn by 2WEI. Despite this chaos, the production moves forward; the ₹50 crore set recreating the ancient city of Kashi in Hyderabad reportedly progresses well.
