Hyderabad, India – On the occasion of Mahesh Babu’s birthday, the makers of SS Rajamouli’s much-anticipated pan-Indian epic Varanasi unveiled the first look of the actor as Rudhra. The images, shared on the film’s official Instagram handle, offer a striking glimpse of the character, with the caption: “Another trip around the Sun… before we travel across time. Happy Birthday Rudhra.” The visuals show Mahesh Babu sporting a beard and casual outdoor gear, with one image placing the character amid the African wilderness with zebras and giraffes visible, and another showing him relaxing on a bamboo raft surrounded by dense greenery.
The images were captured during the film’s Africa schedule, which included filming around Mount Kilimanjaro and the Masai Mara. Director SS Rajamouli revealed that the locations added a dimension that could not have been recreated on a set. “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,” Rajamouli said. He added, “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.”
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Varanasi, earlier referred to as SSMB29, stars Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran alongside Mahesh Babu. Chopra plays Mandakini, while Prithviraj plays the antagonist. The makers had earlier unveiled Priyanka’s first look as Mandakini on her birthday in July. The film, which features music by Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravani, is described as an ambitious project spanning multiple timelines and continents. It is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027, with production now in its final phase.
