Varanasi Movie

Varanasi (2027 Film)

“Varanasi (2027)“ is an upcoming large-scale Indian Telugu-language action adventure film directed by S. S. Rajamouli, the filmmaker behind global successes such as RRR (winner of the Oscar for Best Original Song) and the Baahubali films.

The project was officially announced on 15 November 2025 after long-running speculation and rumours under working titles such as “SSMB29” (a reference to lead actor Mahesh Babu’s 29th film), “GEN 63”, and “Globetrotter”. The announcement took place at a major fan event at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, which drew a huge crowd.

Plot Overview

The film is described as a large-scale action, thriller, and mythology mix that spans different time periods and locations.

Mahesh Babu plays the central character, who appears across several eras:
From 512 CE in an ancient kingdom called Varanasi, to 2027 CE set against modern unrest, and further ahead to 2071, where Earth faces a threat from incoming meteors.

The story takes inspiration from the Ramayana and features time travel and mythological themes. Major sequences include brutal bull-riding action on the blood-soaked ghats of Varanasi, clashes with tridents, and tense confrontations on cliffs.

Full storyline details remain confidential, but the film has been described as Rajamouli’s most ambitious project so far, with key themes of fate, legacy, and large-scale conflict.

Cast and Crew

• Director: S. S. Rajamouli
• Lead Actor: Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, a fierce warrior influenced by Hindu mythology
• Co-Leads:
  • Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini, a strong character shown wielding a pistol in dramatic cliffside shots
  • Prithviraj Sukumaran as the main villain, Kumbha
• Writers: Vijayendra Prasad and S. S. Rajamouli
• Music: M. M. Keeravani, the Oscar-winning composer of RRR
• Cinematography: P. S. Vinod
• Production Design: Mohan Bingi
• Editing: Bikkina Thammiraju
• Visual Effects: V. Srinivas Mohan

The film is backed by Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business. Rajamouli and producer V. Vamshi Krishna Reddy are reported to be using a revenue-sharing model to support the large budget and scale.

Production and Budget

Principal photography began in early 2025 and is currently in progress. The main shoot is expected to conclude by late 2026.

Filming is taking place across several locations, including Varanasi in India, Antarctica, Kenya, and large sets that recreate ancient Kashi. The production places a strong focus on large-scale visuals.

“Varanasi” is set to become the second Indian film shot natively for IMAX after Ramayana Part 1 & 2. It uses a 1.43:1 aspect ratio for selected immersive sequences.

The estimated budget is in the range of ₹1,000 to ₹1,300 crore (roughly US$120 to 150 million), which would make it the most expensive Indian film produced so far.

Industry reports suggest the film may be released in two parts, each around three hours long, beginning in 2027. Official communication at present, however, still points to a single global theatrical release.

Release Details

• Date: Planned for January 2027 to coincide with the Sankranti festival, which is a key release period for Telugu cinema. A summer release window is also being considered. A large-scale international premiere is expected.
• Formats: Standard 2D, IMAX, and dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada.
• Trailer: A nearly four-minute announcement teaser was released on 15 November 2025. It highlights large-scale visual sequences, Mahesh Babu riding a mechanical bull through Varanasi, and jumps between multiple time periods. The teaser is available on YouTube and has already attracted millions of views.

“Varanasi” is positioned as a major Tollywood project with the potential to extend the global reach of Telugu cinema following the success of RRR.

For those interested in the first look, the teaser can be found on YouTube by searching for “Varanasi Official Announcement Teaser Trailer (2027)”.

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