Rajamouli Says Mahesh Babu Gave 200% as Varanasi’s Rudhra

Rajamouli rates his leading man

The first collaboration between SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu is already producing the kind of praise fans hope for. Speaking at a university in the United States, Rajamouli said he walked into Varanasi expecting the actor’s full commitment. Mahesh Babu, he said, went much further.

“He went beyond everything I had imagined and gave 200 percent,” Rajamouli said. “He really nailed the character and surprised me with how much he brought to it.”

The director added that Mahesh Babu’s work as Rudhra made the experience of filming Varanasi special. The action-adventure is set for a theatrical release on April 7, 2027.

The mythology gap he wants to close

Rajamouli also opened up about a long-running frustration. On the Empire Film Podcast, he said he was “never fully satisfied with how these epics were presented on screen.”

That comment matters because it sets the ambition for Varanasi. The RRR director is not just making another action film; he is framing it as an attempt to tell legendary stories at a grander, more convincing scale.

What the mission looks like

Varanasi begins with a global crisis: an asteroid named Shambhavi threatens the city of Varanasi. Mahesh Babu’s Rudhra is a rugged archaeologist and explorer recruited for a high-stakes mission to recover an ancient cosmic artefact.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Mandakini, a fearless historian and skilled marksman who joins him. The chase moves across:

• the jungles of Africa
• the icy landscapes of Antarctica
• several locations across Europe

Prithviraj Sukumaran plays Kumbha, a technologically advanced antagonist in pursuit. The key to stopping the coming catastrophe, according to the filmmakers, lies hidden in Varanasi’s mythical past.

Why fans should watch closely

Rajamouli’s comments shift some attention from the film’s visual scale to performance. That actor-first note is useful for an audience being asked to wait until 2027 for a film built on extensive VFX.

Production is moving steadily. Varanasi was initially expected to wrap by October 2026, and Mahesh Babu has reportedly completed his portions. The team recently marked Prithviraj Sukumaran’s 44th birthday with behind-the-scenes pictures.

Source: PINKVILLA

■

#Indian mythology#Mahesh Babu#Prithviraj Sukumaran#Priyanka Chopra#SS Rajamouli#Varanasi