In a delightful virtual interaction promoting Avatar: Fire and Ash (releasing December 19, 2025), Hollywood legend James Cameron expressed his eagerness to visit the sets of SS Rajamouli’s upcoming epic Varanasi and even offered to shoot second-unit scenes. The conversation, released on the YouTube channel of 20th Century Studios India on December 16, 2025, has sent fans into a frenzy, dreaming of a collaboration between two of the world’s most visionary filmmakers.
The Light-Hearted Offer: Tigers and Cameras
Cameron said, “I’m gonna hold you to it,” while acknowledging Rajamouli’s busy schedule on Varanasi—starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. I’m going to come to your set. You can give me a camera. I like to operate. “I can take some shots for you, possibly as a second unit.” He playfully added, “Tell me when you’re doing something fun… anything with tigers,” referencing Rajamouli’s iconic sequences in RRR. Rajamouli, thrilled, responded, “That would be an absolute pleasure, sir. Not just my unit, my entire film industry will be thrilled.”
Mutual Admiration: From Avatar Praise to Global Ambition
Rajamouli, the first Indian to watch Avatar: Fire and Ash, praised its moral complexities and stunning visuals: “I was like a child in the theatre.” Cameron reciprocated, calling Indian cinema “fearless” and ambitious, a sentiment echoing his past admiration for RRR. The chat highlighted shared passion for pushing cinematic boundaries.
Varanasi Buzz: A Globetrotting Epic
Varanasi, a time-travel adventure blending mythology and action, is Rajamouli’s most ambitious project yet, budgeted at ₹1,000-1,200 crore. With shooting ongoing for over a year, the 2027 release has fans excited for potential Cameron influence.
Fan Dreams Ignited
Social media exploded: “James Cameron second unit for Rajamouli? Cinema gods align!” The exchange has fueled hopes for cross-cultural magic.
A Dialogue of Dreams
Cameron and Rajamouli’s chat isn’t an interview—it’s inspiration. As it offers to bridge worlds, it thunders: “Can visionaries unite visions?” Their warm words affirm a positive response, scripting a saga where ambition knows no borders in the ceaseless chronicle of cinema.
-By Manoj H