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Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli, third from left, with Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu, actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas and actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, extreme right, pose for photograph after unveiling of first look of film ‘Varanasi’ in Hyderabad
| Photo Credit: AP
Director S.S. Rajamouli, the force behind RRR and the Baahubali franchise, unveiled his next cinematic venture, Varanasi, at a colossal fan event in Hyderabad’s Ramoji Film City on Saturday, drawing thousands for a first glimpse of what he calls one of his most ambitious projects yet.
Long teased under the codename “GlobeTrotter,” Varanasi promises a sweeping time-travel adventure rooted in Hindu mythology, with Rajamouli revealing that one major sequence is inspired by “an important episode from the Ramayana.” The filmmaker said he never expected to tackle such material so soon. “While writing every scene and every dialogue, I felt like I was floating,” he told fans, adding that the 60-day shoot for the sequence was among the most challenging of his career.
Headlining the film is Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu, collaborating with Rajamouli for the first time. His introduction at the event — riding a mechanical white bull — mirrored his ferocious on-screen first look as a blood-streaked warrior wielding a trident. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime project,” Babu said. “I will make everyone proud. The whole of India will be proud of us.”
Here’s the man you’ll meet in #Varanasi…
RUDHRA… pic.twitter.com/SOAUsqQ5bv
— Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) November 15, 2025
Priyanka Chopra, returning to Indian cinema after several Hollywood projects, plays Mandakini. Dressed in a dazzling white ensemble, she drew thunderous applause as she greeted fans and paid tribute to her co-star. “I know him as MB — the legendary, incredible Mahesh Babu,” she said, thanking his family for making her “feel like Hyderabad is my home.”
Prithviraj Sukumaran, introduced earlier this month as the antagonist Kumbha, described his role as “physically and emotionally exhausting,” crediting Rajamouli for pushing him to new creative limits. Rajamouli responded with a playful “Enda mashe, adipoli!”
The event itself echoed the director’s trademark scale. A massive 110-by-130-foot LED screen, flanked by replicas of Varanasi’s ghats, showcased the film’s first teaser, though Rajamouli admitted a drone leak disrupted test runs the previous day. Fireworks, music performances and frenzied fan chants, including a viral moment featuring Babu’s daughter Sitara cheering “Jai Babu,” turned the unveiling into a little festival of its own.
Projected for a 2027 release and set for IMAX exhibition, Varanasi follows a world-spanning hero confronting mythic forces across continents.
Published – November 16, 2025 12:29 pm IST
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‘Varanasi’: SS Rajamouli unveils time-travel epic with Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran at spectacular Hyderabad launch
