SS Rajamouli's upcoming film, tentatively titled SSMB29, starring Mahesh Babu, continues to generate buzz with the latest casting rumors. Reportedly, R Madhavan is in talks to play Mahesh Babu's father in this high-budget action-adventure epic.

According to sources, the role was initially offered to Chiyaan Vikram, who declined the offer. Some reports suggest Vikram turned down the role because it had negative shades, as he prefers to play protagonist roles at this stage in his career. Following Vikram's rejection, the filmmakers approached R Madhavan, and he is now believed to be on board. As of now, there has been no official confirmation from the filmmakers.

SSMB29, written by Vijayendra Prasad, Rajamouli's father, is shaping up to be a globe-trotting action-adventure film in the spirit of Indiana Jones. The film is being hailed as one of Indian cinema's most ambitious projects yet, with a reported budget of ₹900-1000 crore.

The film is currently in production, with parts of the shoot reportedly taking place in Kenya. An elaborate introductory sequence featuring both Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas is reportedly being filmed there. A massive set resembling the ghats of Varanasi is also being erected in Hyderabad for the film.

Mahesh Babu plays the lead in what's expected to be his most action-packed role yet. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is reportedly cast opposite him, marking her return to Indian cinema after a long gap. In addition to Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and R Madhavan, Prithviraj Sukumaran is also reportedly playing a key role in the film.

There were initial plans to release the film in two parts, with the shoot going up until the end of 2026 and hitting the big screens in 2027 and 2028, respectively. However, the makers have reportedly moved away from that decision and will release it as a single film, likely with a long runtime.

SSMB29 has been in the news for a while, with various reports and speculations surrounding its cast and storyline. Earlier reports suggested that Rajamouli had approached veteran actor Nana Patekar for the role of Mahesh Babu's father. Rajamouli even visited Nana at his farmhouse in Pune to narrate the script and convince him to join the project. However, Nana declined the role, feeling that the character did not appeal to him enough.

Despite the lack of official confirmation, the rumor of R Madhavan joining the cast has already sparked interest, especially given that this would mark Madhavan's first collaboration with director SS Rajamouli.