Director SS Rajamouli has remained tight-lipped about his next magnum opus, SSMB 29, but a report from The Citizen in Tanzania has now offered fans a thrilling sneak peek. The film stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, and will soon begin filming in Serengeti, Tanzania, before moving to South Africa in the coming weeks.

According to the report, production will kick off in the third week of July, and the film is being developed on a staggering $116 million budget, making it one of the most expensive Indian films ever made.

Indiana Jones-Inspired Plotline Revealed

What grabbed the most attention, however, was the alleged synopsis shared in the Tanzanian media. The film is said to be inspired by Indiana Jones and classic African adventure sagas. The story reportedly follows a rugged explorer embarking on a high-risk expedition through untamed terrain, facing off against nature, ancient mysteries, and a formidable enemy, all in pursuit of a powerful secret that could change the course of the world.

The report describes it as, “Think ancient legends, wild landscapes, and edge-of-your-seat thrills.”

Rajamouli Chooses Secrecy Over Spectacle

In a departure from the grand pre-release strategies seen with Baahubali and RRR, Rajamouli has opted to keep SSMB 29 largely under wraps. The project’s pooja ceremony was conducted quietly in January 2024, with no official statement from the director since.

However, during a special screening of RRR in Japan last year, Rajamouli offered a rare public comment about the lead actor. “His name is Mahesh Babu, he is a Telugu actor... Looks like many of you already know him. He is very handsome. Hopefully, we finish the film a little bit fast and during the release, I will bring him here, and I'll introduce him to you. I'm sure you will love him as well.”