The HMWSSB has declined a request from the makers of S.S. Rajamouli’s Varanasi for 150 water tankers needed for underwater shooting sequences, citing rising summer demand and inability to assure supply amid increasing pressure across Hyderabad.
Published Date – 3 May 2026, 11:49 AM
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board has denied a request for 150 water tankers for shooting of celebrated movie maker SS Rajamouli’s much publicized film ‘Varanasi’.
The shooting for Mahesh Babu and Priyanaka Chopra movie is presently underway at a set created on the city outskirts.
Recently, representatives of Sri Durga Arts, under whose banner ‘Varanasi’ is being made, have approached HMWSSB seeking 150 tankers of water, each with a capacity of 10,000 litres.
These huge quantities of water was for filming underwater sequences at Hyderabad Film City Studio in Gaganpahad of Rajendranagar, where shooting is underway.
The request letter, a copy of which is with ‘Telangana Today’, was addressed to HMWSSB Managing Director K Ashok Reddy and said the production house would pay tanker charges from supply point to the shooting location at Gaganpahad.
The filmmakers said they have constructed a water pond at Hyderabad Film City Studio to shoot certain underwater sequences. They urged the water board to supply a total of 150 tankers, each with a capacity of 10,000 litres, for shooting of these sequences. The supplied water was to be purified to suit the water quality for the shooting scheduled on May 18, the letter mentioned.
However, amid the severe summer, the HMWSSB which is struggling to maintain the increased water supply demand and a spike in demand for water tankers from different parts of the city, has refused to assure the water supply as sought by the makers of ‘Varanasi’.
When contacted, HMWSSB MD, K Ashok Reddy said the claim that they supplied water for the film through 150 tankers was incorrect.
The water board officials reportedly responded to the request orally and ruled out the possibilities of the tanker supply as sought by movie makers.
