Hyderabad: Edited by Samiya Fatima
SS Rajamouli, one of India’s most successful filmmakers, is directing a large-scale Telugu action-adventure film titled Varanasi, with South Super Star Mahesh Babu playing the lead role. The project marks Mahesh Babu’s only upcoming film and has already become one of the most discussed productions in Indian cinema.
The film title and its story background were announced earlier at the Globe Trotter event, where the makers released a special concept video. The video explained the setting and scale of the film and introduced audiences to the story environment designed by Rajamouli. The presentation focused on action-driven storytelling and large-scale visuals.
The makers have now released a special IMAX version video of Varanasi. The IMAX cut highlights the film’s visual scale and production depth. The format brings out details that are hard to notice on mobile phones or standard computer screens. The video shows how the film has been designed for a large theatrical experience, especially for premium formats such as IMAX.
Industry observers say the IMAX visuals clearly show the size of the film’s production and the technical planning involved. The special video reinforces Rajamouli’s consistent focus on theatrical presentation and high-end visual standards.
Priyanka Chopra is returning to Indian Cinema after six years
Varanasi is produced by Sri Durga Arts and stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. This film marks the first on-screen collaboration between Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra. Priyanka Chopra returns to Indian cinema after a long gap. Her last Indian film was The Sky Is Pink, released in 2019.
The film carries a reported budget of over Rs 1,000 crore, placing it among the most expensive Indian films ever made. Shooting for the project has already begun. Mahesh Babu’s previous film was Guntur Kaaram, released in 2024. Since then, the actor has not signed any other projects and is fully focused on Varanasi.
Initially announced as a two-part project planned for releases in 2027 and 2029, the makers have now confirmed that Varanasi will release as a single film. The final runtime is reported to be around 210 minutes. Varanasi is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release in January 2027, during the Sankranti festival season. Fans are expected to wait nearly two years for Mahesh Babu’s return to the big screen, with expectations running high due to the scale, cast, and director attached to the project.
Posted on 18 December 3:02 PM IST
Mohammed Naseer Giyas is a multi-media and bilingual journalist with over 20 years of experience across print, digital, and television media. Founder of Raftaar-e-Deccan, he is an alumnus of IVLP, Thomson Reuters Foundation, and ICFJ, and has worked with leading English and Urdu news organisations.
