Filmmaker SS Rajamouli received a warm welcome from fans at the iconic Grand Rex Theater in Paris, where he held a special masterclass and screened his global blockbuster RRR. The director, who is on a promotional spree in France, also watched his box-office blockbuster “Baahubali” with the audience.
SS Rajamouli received a warm welcome in paris
SS Rajamouli at the Grand Rex Theater in Paris
Addressing the audience at the historic venue, Rajamouli expressed his admiration for the theatre, saying: “To me, this is the most beautiful theater in the world.” He then went on to recall his first visit to the theater, claiming that he still remembered some of the details.
SS Rajamuli on interacting with James Cameron
Video from the event shows Rajamouli wearing his usual black shirt and blue jeans on the big stage as fans cheer him on. At the event, he sat down with the hosts for a Q&A where he shared his love for movies, recalled an unforgettable meeting with director James Cameron, and revealed whether his movie Eega was inspired by Toy Story.The director addressed the audience and shared his belief in film’s ability to transcend language and cultural barriers. “Art is one of the most powerful mediums that brings people together. I’m a Telugu-speaking Indian filmmaker and I don’t know much about French culture… but all these people came here to watch my film. It’s beautiful,” he said.During the masterclass, Rajamouli recalled his interaction with Cameron, saying, “I looked at him and felt optimistic. He was talking about how he had watched RRR twice. We also talked about artificial intelligence, which is a topic that scares me. He said that artificial intelligence will never replace filmmaking, which reassured me. “During the event, Rajamouli was also asked if the hit animated film “Toy Story” inspired his film “Eega”. To which he simply said: “No.”
Fans in Paris attend screening of Rajamouli’s film
SS Rajamouli promotes ‘Varanasi’ in Paris
Rajamouli also used the opportunity to promote his upcoming film Varanasi. As can be seen in photos and videos from the theater, free T-shirts featuring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra’s characters were given to the audience. They were also treated to some additional movie merchandise, which was placed on their seats before arriving at the cinema.In a clip from his Paris trip, the director can be seen thanking the audience for their support and assuring them that he will be back with his next big adventure. He said, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Filmmakers cannot ask for more. I will definitely be back with my next film Varanasi. They always say that a film producer is a very greedy person and I am also a very greedy person.” I want more of your love. Thank you so much. “The film director of ‘Varanasi’ shared the video and captioned it: “Paris…your love makes us work harder to bring you #Varanasi. We promise.”The filmmaker also shared an update about his next film Varanasi with his fans. As well as telling fans that the majority of filming has been completed, he added: “Only smaller scenes remain to be filmed and there are still approximately 80 days of filming left to complete the project.”Rajamouli was in Paris after showcasing Baahubali: Eternal War at an event in Annecy 2026. The director also received grand recognition at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris.
