Mahesh Babu’s first full look as Rudhra from SS Rajamouli’s pan-Indian epic Varanasi has been unveiled to mark the actor’s 51st birthday. The film’s official Instagram handle shared the new stills with the caption, “Another trip around the Sun… before we travel across time. Happy Birthday Rudhra.”
The newly released visuals show Mahesh Babu in a rugged avatar, sporting a beard and casual outdoor gear. One image places Rudhra amid the African wilderness, with zebras and giraffes visible in the background, while another shows him relaxing on a bamboo raft surrounded by dense greenery. The images were captured during the film’s Africa shooting schedule, which included filming around Mount Kilimanjaro and the Masai Mara.
Speaking about the character, director SS Rajamouli said, “Rudhra was born to fulfil a purpose much larger than himself. He carries a destiny he did not ask for. He is witty, he is vulnerable, and he is fierce. That’s what Mahesh brought to him. Anyone can play fierce; very few can play fierce and fragile in the same breath.”
He also spoke about the impact of shooting on location, adding, “These frames are from our Africa schedule, and the land gave us something no set could. Shooting around Kilimanjaro and in the Masai Mara, I was stunned. There were mornings I felt even the 1.43:1 IMAX frame could not hold what was in front of us.”
Varanasi, earlier referred to by its working title SSMB29, stars Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran as the film’s antagonist, Kumbha, described as a tech genius standing between Rudhra and Mandakini and their larger goal.
According to details that have emerged around the project, Varanasi is set in 2027, when the holy city faces the impending arrival of a massive asteroid. Rudhra, described as a rugged archaeologist and explorer, is recruited for a high-stakes, globe-trotting mission to recover an ancient cosmic artifact believed to hold the key to stopping the disaster, joined by Mandakini, a fierce historian and skilled marksman. Their journey reportedly moves through Africa, Antarctica and Europe, pursued by Kumbha, before eventually connecting back to Varanasi’s own mythical past.
Varanasi is directed by SS Rajamouli, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside V. Vijayendra Prasad and SS Kanchi. The film is produced by KL Narayana and SS Karthikeya under the banners of Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business, with music composed by Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravani.
Described as an ambitious project spanning multiple timelines and continents, the film is being shot in Premium Large Format for IMAX. Production has entered its final phase, with reports putting the overall shoot at more than 80 percent complete and the remaining portions currently being filmed in Hyderabad. Varanasi is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027.
The makers had earlier unveiled Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ first look as Mandakini on her own birthday in July, introducing the character through contrasting visuals that included a bold black corset-style outfit and a more adventurous look featuring a white crop top and cargo pants, captioned, “To more adventures…. more discoveries… and journeys across every horizon.”
With production nearing completion and character reveals building steady momentum ahead of its 2027 release, Varanasi continues to generate massive anticipation as Rajamouli’s ambitious follow-up to RRR, blending mythology, science fiction and globe-spanning adventure on an unprecedented scale.
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