SS Rajamouli has offered a rare glimpse of Mahesh Babu’s rugged character in Varanasi, along with a look at the film’s Africa schedule.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Rajamouli shared details of the shoot as Mahesh Babu celebrated his 51st birthday on Sunday. He also released two images of the actor as Rudhra, writing, “Fierce isn’t his only shade.”
The pictures show Mahesh in a bearded, rugged look. One places Rudhra in the African wilderness, with zebras and giraffes in the background. Another shows him relaxing on a bamboo platform surrounded by greenery.
Rajamouli described Rudhra as witty, vulnerable and fierce, saying Mahesh brought both strength and fragility to the character.
The Africa schedule included filming around Mount Kilimanjaro and the Masai Mara. Rajamouli said the locations offered something no set could recreate. He added that some scenes were so vast that even the 1.43:1 IMAX frame seemed unable to contain them.
Varanasi follows Rudhra, an adventurer travelling across time and the world to retrieve an artefact capable of destroying the world. Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran also star, with MM Keeravani composing the music.
Touted as one of India’s most expensive films, Varanasi is scheduled for release in April 2027, with production now in its final phase.
