Pawan Kalyan shoots in Varanasi

A white clothed man immersing ashes in the middle of river

Ganga

could be mistaken for any other traveller praying for moksha for his loved ones. Instead, it turned out to be popular South Indian actor-singer Pawan Kalyan who was enacting a scene for an upcoming Telugu film Agnyaathavaasi being shot in Varanasi these days. The film is directed by well-known director Trivikram Srinivas of

Athadu Atharintiki Daaredi

fame. During the nearly five-day shooting stint in the city, a Holi song was also canned at the Ramnagar Fort.
Coming to Varanasi for the first time director Trivikram, said, "Time stops once you are on the ghats in Banaras. I have been shooting since the last three days on the banks of Ganga and there is something magical about this place. I will surely visit

Kashi Vishwanath

temple once I wrap up the shoot."
Telling us a bit about how he came to shoot in the holy city, Trivikram said, "The story of the film has brought us to Banaras. The father and brother of the protagonist (Pawan Kalyan) get killed in the film and he comes to Banaras to immerse their ashes. We also have a special song that runs in the backdrop since death is celebrated in our South Indian tradition and you can feel it more in Banaras. It is a city that has the power of looking into the eye of death. Even the cremation of dead bodies appears, from far off, as torch light. In fact, the fear of death is missing from here."
The director, who loved every moment of shooting in the city, added, "It is very easy to shoot in Banaras since the people here are very welcoming."
Well-known character actor of South Indian films Tanikella Bharani is also part of the cast that’s shooting in Banaras

Pawan Kalyan and Tanikella Bharani shooting a scene for the Telugu film in Varanasi (BCCL/ Arvind Kumar)