SS Rajamouli just dropped some good news for fans waiting for Varanasi. The film, starring Mahesh Babu, is nearly done—about ten days of shooting left and that’s it. Rajamouli made the announcement in Brazil, where he was attending the 50th São Paulo International Film Festival and picking up the Leon Cakoff Award for his impact on global cinema.
Rumors about delays have been all over the internet, but Rajamouli’s update settles that. The movie’s still lined up for a worldwide release on April 7, 2027.
When asked by Oxente Pipoca, a Brazilian film outlet, about how much work was left, Rajamouli said, “I am happy, as we are now wrapping up filming; there are only 10 days left, and the process will be complete.” He also promised the film would hit screens in Brazil and said he plans to return with it.
Varanasi isn’t what people think—it’s not science fiction, though some parts might look futuristic on screen. Rajamouli calls it a fantasy, loaded with mythological themes. At the heart of it all is a father-son relationship and a classic love story. Time travel is part of the plot, so the story jumps across eras and places. Rajamouli described the film as “six or seven movies brought together as one,” and admitted stitching all those elements together was a huge creative challenge.
Mahesh Babu stars as Rudhra, and Rajamouli’s praise for him couldn’t be higher. Though he already knew Mahesh’s talent, working together showed him new depths. “With Mahesh Babu in Varanasi, I expected him to give 100 percent… But once I started working with him, he completely exceeded my expectations,” Rajamouli told students at Penn State University. According to him, Mahesh Babu gave “200 percent” and absolutely nailed the character.
One standout sequence features Mahesh Babu as Lord Rama, inspired by the Ramayana. It took two months to film and has people buzzing. Rajamouli also talked about wanting to bring Indian mythology and epic tales to the big screen in ways they haven’t been done before—and hopes Varanasi sets a new standard.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Mandakini, Prithviraj Sukumaran is Kumbha, and Prakash Raj also has a major part. The script is written by Vijayendra Prasad and Rajamouli. According to Cinesite, the visual-effects studio, April 7, 2027 is locked in as the release date—Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu announced it earlier this year online.
Varanasi is Rajamouli’s first movie since RRR, which grabbed an international audience and even scored an Oscar for “Naatu Naatu.” In São Paulo, the festival screened RRR and gave a sneak peek at Varanasi and Baahubali: The Eternal War.
With only ten days of filming left, they’ll wrap up by the end of October. Then comes post-production. The team is working hard to stick to that April 2027 timeline. There’s been no official word about any delays, and Rajamouli’s comments make it clear: Varanasi’s in its home stretch.
