Mahesh Babu’s Look in S.S. Rajamouli’s ‘Varanasi’ Unveiled
S.S. Rajamouli's upcoming epic "Varanasi" has released two new character stills of star Mahesh Babu, unveiled on Sunday to mark the actor's birthday. The images show his character Rudhra on location in Africa, offering the latest glimpse of a production that has been generating anticipation as the director's much-awaited follow-up to the Oscar-winning "RRR".
The stills were shot at the Kilimanjaro and Maasai Mara locations, part of a story that spans thousands of years and continents, from Antarctica to Africa to the titular Indian city. Babu plays dual roles as protagonist Rudhra and the Hindu god Rama, alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran as antagonist Kumbha; Babu has said he spent a year preparing for the part, including three months of Kalari martial arts training to adjust his posture and further training to alter his running style. "Varanasi", which reunites Rajamouli with Oscar-winning composer M.M. Keeravani, is due in cinemas worldwide on 7 April 2027.
- New Mahesh Babu stills from "Varanasi" released for his birthday
- Shot in Kilimanjaro and Maasai Mara, Africa
- Rajamouli's "RRR" follow-up opens worldwide 7 April 2027
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Rajamouli, the Telugu director behind the Oscar-winning film "RRR", is working on his next big-budget project, "Varanasi", a fantasy epic said to unfold across thousands of years and several locations, including Antarctica, Africa and the Indian city that gives the film its name. It stars Mahesh Babu, one of Telugu cinema's leading actors, in a dual role, alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran.
The film has drawn heavy anticipation both because of Rajamouli's track record and because plot and character details have largely been kept under wraps, meaning each official image or update becomes a significant moment for fans trying to piece together the story. Mahesh Babu has spoken about undergoing lengthy physical preparation for his role, reflecting the scale the production is being built on.
"Varanasi" is scheduled for a worldwide cinema release in April 2027, so the film remains some way from completion, and material shared publicly so far consists mainly of first-look images rather than plot specifics.
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