SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi has barely allowed the internet to breathe since its grand unveiling, and now, another piece of the puzzle has slipped into public view. A new set photograph from the film has surfaced online, giving fans the first detailed glimpse of the much discussed Ugrabhatti caves sequence, one of the most visually ambitious portions of the Mahesh Babu starrer.
The leaked image, which began circulating on social media on May 26, 2026, does not show any actors. Instead, it pulls attention toward a vast production setup marked by towering sculpted rock formations, carved cave like pillars and extensive blue screen work. For a Rajamouli film, where scale and visual design are never accidental, the photograph has instantly become a talking point among fans waiting for the filmmaker’s next big screen spectacle.
Ugrabhatti Caves Sequence Gets Its First Detailed Look
The Ugrabhatti caves sequence had already caught attention through earlier promotional material featuring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The newly surfaced photo now gives a clearer sense of the environment being constructed for the scene, with the set built around mythological scale, physical grandeur and a strong visual effects design.
The sequence’s mythological context brings in Mata Chinnamasta Devi, a fierce Hindu goddess associated with self sacrifice, transformation and cosmic balance. In traditional iconography, she is depicted holding her own severed head while offering her blood to her attendants. Within the world of Varanasi, Mahesh Babu’s character Rudhra is connected to this divine thread as he confronts an ancient evil force.
The scale of the set also underlines Rajamouli’s continued preference for building immersive physical spaces before enhancing them with visual effects. The filmmaker had earlier described his collaboration with Mahesh Babu as a large scale adventure, saying at an international film event, “My next film with Mahesh Babu will be a globetrotting action adventure. It’s going to be a kind of James Bond or Indiana Jones film with Indian roots.”
What Varanasi Brings Together
Varanasi is directed by SS Rajamouli, who has co written the film with V. Vijayendra Prasad and S. S. Kanchi. The Telugu language epic action adventure is produced by K. L. Narayana and S. S. Karthikeya under Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business. The principal cast features Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha, with MM Keeravani composing the music.
The film’s premise follows Rudhra across a time spanning adventure as the city of Varanasi faces a cosmic threat. The narrative combines mythology, action and spectacle, placing Rajamouli back in the epic zone after the global success of RRR.
Varanasi is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027, in standard and IMAX formats.
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