Mahesh Babu & S. S. Rajamouli’s Upcoming Epic Is Titled Varanasi: What We Know So Far
The highly-anticipated collaboration between superstar Mahesh Babu and visionary filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli has officially been titled Varanasi. The unveiling took place at a grand event at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, where fans were treated to a dramatic first glimpse of Mahesh in his new avatar.
🎬 Key Details at a Glance
- Title: Varanasi (previously referred to as “GlobeTrotter”)
- Director: S. S. Rajamouli
- Lead Cast: Mahesh Babu (in the role named Rudhra), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (as Mandakini), and Prithviraj Sukumaran (as antagonist Kumbha)
- Release Timeline: Slated for Sankranti 2027
- Debut First Look: Mahesh Babu riding a bull, wielding a trident (trishul) in a rugged avatar.
🌍 What the Title & First Look Suggest
The title Varanasi, along with the visuals of Mahesh riding a bull and holding a trishul, hint at a potent mix of mythology, adventure and perhaps time- or space-traversing narratives. The event teased the tagline “TimeTrotter / GlobeTrotter”, fueling speculation that the film might combine elements of global adventure (à la Indiana Jones) with Hindu mythic symbolism.
🛠 Behind the Scenes & Production Insights
- The film is being mounted on a massive scale, as Rajamouli’s previous works had established.
- The setting for the reveal suggests large-scale mega-sets and ambitious production values: the launch featured a huge 130 ft × 100 ft screen.
- Rajamouli is known to closely guard his projects—leaks of shooting sequences reportedly caused delays in the event.
🔍 What to Look Forward To
- Mahesh Babu’s Performance: From the glimpses, he appears to be playing a powerful, almost deity-like character (Rudhra) embodying both mass heroism and mythic undertones.
- Priyanka Chopra & Prithviraj’s roles: Priyanka as Mandakini and Prithviraj as Kumbha add pan-India and international appeal. Prithviraj’s look was described as “terrifying” by Priyanka.
- Global Scope: With the “GlobeTrotter” tag and lavish expectations, the film is likely designed for both Indian and international audiences.
- Technical Craft: While detailed credits aren’t fully revealed yet, given Rajamouli’s track record, music, cinematography, VFX and action are expected to be top-tier.
📝 Why This Collaboration Matters
- This marks Mahesh Babu’s first major film with Rajamouli after the director’s global hits like RRR and Baahubali.
- The announcement signals a potential new benchmark for “pan-India” blockbuster filmmaking—myth plus adventure plus international canvas.
- The timing, with release set around Sankranti 2027, shows the makers’ ambition for a festival-style mass release.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Varanasi promises to be one of the most significant Indian films of the coming years. With its powerful star-cast, a visionary director, mythological flair and global scale, this is a movie that aims to transcend language and region. While many details remain under wrap, the title reveal and first look have already set expectations sky-high. For fans of both Mahesh Babu and Rajamouli, Varanasi could mark a landmark moment.
