SS Rajamouli, the acclaimed director of blockbuster hits like "Baahubali" and "RRR," has opted for a new cinematographer for his upcoming film, "SSMB29," starring Mahesh Babu. This decision marks a departure from his long-standing collaboration with K.K. Senthil Kumar, who has been the visual architect behind most of Rajamouli's landmark films.

Senthil Kumar confirmed that he will not be a part of "SSMB29," stating that it was Rajamouli's decision to try someone new for this project. In an interview with Telugu360, Senthil said, "It's Rajamouli's call. He wanted to try someone new for SSMB29, which is why I'm not working as the cinematographer". He also added, "People want to do different films with different people, right? So it is a good break".

The director-cinematographer duo of Rajamouli and Senthil Kumar has been one of the most successful in Indian cinema, with their collaborations on films like "Magadheera", "Eega", "Baahubali: The Beginning," "Baahubali 2" and "RRR" receiving widespread acclaim for their visual ambition and cinematic scale. Their partnership has spanned over two decades, setting new standards in Indian cinematography.

Senthil Kumar clarified that there is no strain in his professional relationship with Rajamouli. He mentioned that they have been working together since 2003, but there have been breaks in between due to other commitments. He said, “We've been working together since 2003, but we didn't always do films back-to-back. There were breaks earlier too. I couldn't do 'Maryada Ramanna' or 'Vikramarkudu' because I was working on other projects. Gaps have happened before also, but the relationship continues".

For "SSMB29," Rajamouli has roped in P.S. Vinod as the cinematographer. This will be the first time that Rajamouli and Vinod will be collaborating. Vinod has previously worked as a cinematographer for Mahesh Babu's film "Guntur Kaaram".

"SSMB29" is touted to be a large-scale jungle adventure thriller with mythological elements, drawing inspiration from Lord Hanuman and the "Indiana Jones" franchise. The film features Mahesh Babu in the lead role, along with an ensemble cast including Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The music will be composed by M.M. Keeravani. The film is expected to release on March 25, 2027.

Reportedly, the film's next schedule was planned to be shot in Kenya, but due to the ongoing tensions and instability in the region, the filming has been put on hold. The team is now considering other locations in Africa, such as Tanzania and South Africa.