Mahesh Babu’s Birthday: SS Rajamouli Drops New ‘Varanasi’ Stills, Gives a Glimpse of Rudhra

SS Rajamouli surprises Mahesh Babu’s fans on his birthday with two new stills from “Varanasi,” featuring the actor as Rudhra. The photos offer another look at his character, as Rajamouli describes him as, “Fierce isn’t his only shade…RUDHRA in #Varanasi.”

The photos were taken during the film’s African schedule. Some portions of the film were shot in Kilimanjaro and the Maasai Mara. The official handle of the movie on social media stated, “Another trip around the Sun… before we travel across time. Happy Birthday Rudhra.” Moreover, Rajamouli also praised Mahesh Babu’s performance as “witty,” “vulnerable” and “fierce.”

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The synopsis for the movie was released recently on the official site of Sky-Blu Cinematix, the brand partner of the movie. It states, “In the year 2027, the world faces an existential crisis as a massive asteroid named Shambhavi is on a direct collision course with the holy city of Varanasi. A rugged archaeologist and explorer, Rudhra, is recruited for a high-stakes, globetrotting mission to recover an ancient cosmic artefact, joined by Mandakini, a fierce historian and skilled marksman.”

It further adds, “Their quest becomes a high-tech sci-fi thriller racing across the jungles of Africa, the icy wastes of Antarctica, and the landscapes of Europe, pursued by the tech-genius villain Kumbha. The key to stopping a future catastrophe lies hidden within the city's mythical past.”

During a recent interview with Tsounami, Rajamouli opened up about the film being shot on IMAX, stating that 80 percent of the filming is done.

“Varanasi” is scheduled to release on April 7, 2027. The makers, including the lead actors had previously organised an event in Hyderabad, titled “Globetrotter,” to unveil the movie’s title. Moreover, on Priyanka's 44th birthday on July 18, the makers also dropped her fierce character look as Mandakini for her fans.