SS Rajamouli has shared a major production update on Varanasi, underscoring the scale of his next film with Mahesh Babu. Speaking at the 50th São Paulo International Film Festival in Brazil, the filmmaker said the project is five to six times bigger than RRR in scale, yet it was completed in fewer shooting days than his 2022 blockbuster.
Rajamouli’s comparison directly ties the film’s larger canvas to a tighter production schedule. While RRR was filmed over 315 days, Varanasi was wrapped in 275 days, marking a 40-day difference on a significantly bigger project.
Rajamouli Shares The Latest Production Update
The director said, “We are told the stories of our mythology, history and heroes right from our childhood. I did a lot more paperwork on Varanasi, going into filming even more prepared. We shot RRR in 315 days and Varanasi, despite being bigger, in 275 days, saving 40 days.”
The statement offers the clearest production update yet on the film and puts the focus firmly on Rajamouli’s preparation process. Varanasi has been positioned for a theatrical release on April 7, 2027, keeping industry attention fixed on the film as Rajamouli moves ahead after RRR.
What Varanasi Is About
Varanasi is an action-adventure drama starring Mahesh Babu in the lead, with Priyanka Chopra Jonas as the female lead and Prithviraj Sukumaran as the main antagonist.
The story unfolds during a global crisis after a massive asteroid named Shambhavi threatens the city of Varanasi. Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, an archaeologist and explorer recruited for a mission to recover an ancient cosmic artefact, while Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Mandakini, a historian and skilled marksman who joins him on the journey. Their mission takes them through Africa, Antarctica and parts of Europe as they confront a technologically advanced antagonist.
The scale of the setup, combined with multiple international locations and extensive visual effects work, places Varanasi firmly in the big-screen event category.
Mahesh Babu’s Recent And Upcoming Work
For Mahesh Babu, Varanasi follows Guntur Kaaram, which released in 2024. Directed by Trivikram Srinivas, the film starred Sreeleela and Meenakshi Chaudhary alongside him and marked his most recent release as a lead actor.
Before that, he starred in Sarkaru Vaari Paata in 2022, directed by Parasuram and co-starring Keerthy Suresh. The same year, Major, produced under G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment, added another significant title to his banner’s run, with Adivi Sesh in the lead.
As of October 25, 2026, Varanasi is Mahesh Babu’s next confirmed theatrical release and stands as a major collaboration in his career, bringing him together with Rajamouli for the first time on a film mounted at a massive scale.
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