There has been growing discussion about the possibility of the movie Varanasi, directed by SS Rajamouli with Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra in lead roles, being released in two parts.
The main reason behind these talks appears to be related to IMAX screen availability.
According to reports, the release date was fixed based on when IMAX screens would be available, which has become an important factor for the film’s theatrical planning.
Another key point in the discussion is the OTT rights. It is said that director Rajamouli prefers to give the digital streaming rights only to Netflix. However, aligning the release schedule with this OTT plan has reportedly created some complications.
Sources indicate that the offer coming from Netflix is lower than the amount the team initially expected.
Because of this situation, the makers are said to be exploring whether splitting the film into two parts could help cover the investment gap.
If the story is presented in two installments, it might help balance the financial expectations and overall production costs.
At the same time, the team is also discussing the possible advantages, disadvantages, workload, and scheduling implications of such a decision.
As of now, no final decision has been made regarding the two part release.
However, one thing seems clear, whatever decision the team takes, the announced release date will not change.