Varanasi: Mahesh Babu Enters S.S. Rajamouli’s Mythic World

S.S. Rajamouli’s Varanasi is shaping up as an ambitious meeting point between contemporary Indian stardom and the visual language of mythology. New imagery from the film places Mahesh Babu at the centre of a world marked by divine symbolism, presenting his character Rudhra as a devotee of Lord Shiva.

The film’s first glimpse introduced Rudhra alongside a trident and Nandi, establishing an immediate association with Shiva. Further visuals shared by Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival deepen that thematic direction, evoking imagery connected with Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Hanuman. While the images offer only selective details about the narrative, they clearly position Varanasi as a large-scale cinematic exploration of Indian mythological imagination.

Mahesh Babu’s Rudhra and the symbolism of the first glimpse

Mahesh Babu’s appearance as Rudhra is central to the film’s initial visual identity. The trident and Nandi are not simply decorative elements; within the visual grammar of Shaivite tradition, both are closely associated with Lord Shiva. Their presence gives the character an instantly recognisable spiritual and cultural context while leaving the broader details of his journey undisclosed.

The choice to introduce the protagonist through symbols rather than extensive plot exposition is significant. It allows the film to establish its world through mood, iconography and scale. The imagery suggests that mythology in Varanasi will function not only as background material, but also as an important part of the film’s character design and storytelling framework.

A mythological canvas with a contemporary cinematic scale

Rajamouli’s cinema has consistently been associated with expansive storytelling, strong character archetypes and ambitious visual construction. With Varanasi, the director appears to be extending that approach into a setting shaped by Indian mythological references. The visuals associated with Shiva, Vishnu and Hanuman point towards a world that draws from familiar cultural symbols while presenting them through the scale of a modern theatrical epic.

That balance will be important to the film’s appeal. Mythological imagery carries deep cultural familiarity for Indian audiences, but translating it into a contemporary feature-film experience requires a distinct visual language and careful narrative framing. The early material indicates that Varanasi is being positioned as a spectacle-driven film that aims to use this cultural vocabulary in a globally accessible format.

A major cast led by Mahesh Babu

Varanasi brings together Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran in its principal cast. Their presence gives the project a broad reach across Indian cinema and adds to the film’s international visibility. Mahesh Babu’s role as Rudhra is the first character detail to receive prominent visual emphasis, while the available material has not yet disclosed the full nature of the other characters or their relationships within the story.

The combination of a major Telugu star, an internationally recognised Indian actor and a leading Malayalam performer also reflects the increasingly pan-Indian scope of large theatrical productions. Rather than being framed around a single regional market, the film is being presented for audiences across India and beyond.

Why the April 2027 release matters

Varanasi is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release in April 2027. The release window places the film firmly within the event-cinema space, where scale, visual spectacle and the anticipation surrounding a filmmaker-star collaboration can become central to the audience experience.

At this stage, the released imagery has established the film’s mythological atmosphere without revealing substantial plot information. That approach keeps attention focused on the world being created and on Mahesh Babu’s transformation into Rudhra. Further promotional material will be expected to clarify the film’s story, the role of its mythological references and the manner in which its three lead performers are connected.

DPIFF Instagram reference

DPIFF highlighted the film’s mythological imagery and Mahesh Babu’s portrayal of Rudhra in its Instagram post. The original post can be viewed here: DPIFF’s Instagram reference for Varanasi.

For now, the visuals offer a clear introduction to the film’s central promise: a contemporary Indian epic built around an expansive mythological world, led by Mahesh Babu and directed by S.S. Rajamouli.

About Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival

Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival is an Indian film festival and entertainment platform named after Dadasaheb Phalke, widely recognised as the father of Indian cinema. The festival celebrates achievements across Indian and international cinema and highlights the work of actors, filmmakers, technicians and other creative professionals. Through its editorial and social platforms, DPIFF also brings readers and audiences closer to significant developments in the film industry.