
Director SS Rajamouli released two new looks of Mahesh Babu from his upcoming film ‘Varanasi’ on the actor’s birthday Sunday. The first still shows Rudhra on a bamboo raft in a dense…
Director SS Rajamouli released two new looks of Mahesh Babu from his upcoming film ‘Varanasi’ on the actor’s birthday Sunday. The first still shows Rudhra on a bamboo raft in a dense jungle, the second places him against the Maasai Mara plains in Kenya. Priyanka Chopra, who plays Mandakini in the film, also shared a behind-the-scenes picture with Mahesh Babu from the Africa schedule, wishing him on Instagram. The Times of India reports the film is in production, while Cinema Express says it is almost complete.

The globe-trotting epic, shot in IMAX format, is set for release on April 7, 2027. Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the villain Kumbha, and Prakash Raj has a role. Rajamouli told Cinema Express that the Africa locations brought 'something no set could' and that Mahesh Babu's character is 'witty, vulnerable, and fierce'.
The hype around 'Varanasi' is already building, with two years to go and fans lapping up every image. But the narrative that this is an 'epic adventure around the world and in time' remains mostly promise. One source says production is ongoing, another claims it is nearly done, which is it? And will a 2027 release hold up if post-production on an IMAX film takes longer? Watch for an official announcement of the full cast; that will tell us whether this is truly a global project or just clever marketing.
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, cinemaexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.