Political tussles over Varanasi’s Manikarnika Ghat aside, the city’s cinematic footprint is monumental. Home to hundreds of shoots, Kashi’s ghats and galis have breathed life into stories spanning romance, drama, and fantasy.
‘Raanjhanaa’ (2013) set the benchmark, with director Aanand L. Rai letting Dhanush chase Sonam Kapoor through Banaras’ beating heart—from Ganga Aarti to teeming bazaars, infusing passion into every corner.
‘ Masaan’ (2015) brought raw intensity. Neeraj Ghaywan’s lens on Vicky Kaushal and Richa Chadha at Manikarnika pierced societal veils, turning pyre smoke into metaphors for rebirth.
Comedy met contemplation in ‘Mukti Bhawan’ (2016). Shubhashish Bhutiani’s tale of Adil Hussain’s final countdown at a ghat-side inn captured Varanasi’s unique dance with death.
Mystery unfolded in ‘Banaras’ (2006), as Pankaj Parashar framed Urmila Matondkar’s saga against Kashi Vishwanath’s sanctity and hidden ashrams.
‘Mohalla Assi’ grounded realism in Assi Ghat’s daily grind, with Chandra Prakash Dwivedi probing cultural clashes via vivid local flavors.
Blockbuster era saw ‘Brahmastra’ ignite ghats for mythic battles. ‘Vanvaas’ poured emotion into Ganga-side family sagas with Nana Patekar, and ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’ sprinkled whimsy over chowks and ghats.
Ultimately, Varanasi doesn’t just host films—it transforms them, its eternal flow mirroring cinema’s endless narratives.