Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Nov 17: In a spectacular mega event at Ramoji Film City, director S.S. Rajamouli — the visionary behind RRR and the Baahubali franchise — unveiled his next magnum opus Varanasi, drawing thousands of fans eager for a first glimpse of what he calls one of his “most ambitious films yet.”
Long teased under the codename Globetrotter, Varanasi promises a sweeping time-travel adventure rooted in Hindu mythology. Rajamouli revealed that one of the film’s most crucial sequences is inspired by an “important episode from the Ramayana,” adding that its 60-day shoot was among the toughest of his career. “While writing every scene and every dialogue, I felt like I was floating,” he told the cheering crowd.
Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu teams up with Rajamouli for the first time, making a dramatic entry at the event on a mechanical white bull — mirroring his fierce first-look poster as a trident-wielding warrior. Calling it a “once-in-a-lifetime project,” Babu vowed, “I will make everyone proud. The whole of India will be proud of us.”
Priyanka Chopra, returning to Indian cinema after a series of Hollywood ventures, plays Mandakini. Dressed in a stunning white outfit, she earned thunderous applause as she greeted fans. Praising her co-star, she said, “I know him as MB — the legendary, incredible Mahesh Babu,” adding that his family made her feel “like Hyderabad is my home.”
Prithviraj Sukumaran, introduced as the antagonist Kumbha, described his role as “physically and emotionally exhausting.” Rajamouli responded with a playful, “Enda mashe, adipoli!” sparking loud cheers from fans.
The event reflected Rajamouli’s grand signature style — featuring a massive 110x130-foot LED screen, replicas of Varanasi’s ghats, fireworks, musical performances, and electrifying chants. A viral moment came when Mahesh Babu’s daughter Sitara joined the crowd shouting “Jai Babu.”
Slated for a 2027 release with IMAX presentation, Varanasi charts the journey of a world-spanning hero confronting mythic forces across continents — setting the stage for Rajamouli’s next cinematic spectacle.