Varanasi First Glimpse Out: Rajamouli Unveils Mahesh Babu–Priyanka Chopra’s Epic Collaboration

SS Rajamouli unveiled the first official glimpse of his magnum opus Varanasi to a global audience on November 16, 2025, a day after its electrifying title reveal at the Globetrotter event in Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad. Previously codenamed SSMB29, the film stars Mahesh Babu as the formidable Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra as the enigmatic Mandakini, and Prithviraj Sukumaran in a yet-to-be-disclosed role. The teaser, shared simultaneously by the director and lead actors on social media, begins with sweeping drone footage of Varanasi’s ancient ghats, tracing the city’s legacy back to 521 CE before plunging into a cosmic spectacle featuring asteroid Sambhavi’s collision with Earth.

The visual journey spans Antarctica and Africa and culminates at Manikarnika Ghat, where Mahesh Babu makes a thunderous entry astride a charging bull, trishul raised high—a moment that instantly evoked Rajamouli’s signature blend of mythology and grandeur seen in Baahubali and RRR. Mahesh Babu captioned his post, “Taking in every bit of the love and energy... Here's our #Varanasi to the world,” while Priyanka Chopra wrote, “Just a glimpse... yet so much more,” expressing gratitude for the overwhelming response. Rajamouli simply declared, “Varanasi to the World”, marking the film’s global ambition.

Despite a setback at the live event—where unauthorised drone footage leaked the teaser prematurely, prompting Rajamouli to slam operators for compromising “a year of hard work”—the official release restored momentum and unified fans worldwide. Social media erupted with praise, with users calling it “pure madness on screen” and hailing the synergy of “Rajamouli’s vision + Mahesh Babu’s aura.” One viral comment read, “Even the Ganga is blushing after this promo,” while another predicted, “Mahesh Babu was underutilised all these years—Rajamouli is about to unleash his true potential.”

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Produced by K. L. Narayana with music by M. M. Keeravani, Varanasi marks Priyanka Chopra’s return to Indian cinema after over a decade and her first collaboration with Rajamouli and Babu. The project’s rumoured ₹1,000 crore budget and extensive international shoots signal a new benchmark in Indian filmmaking, blending Hindu mythological elements with cutting-edge VFX and high-octane action sequences.

Set for a 2027 theatrical release, Varanasi is already being positioned as a cultural and cinematic milestone, bridging Tollywood’s technical excellence with global storytelling. As anticipation builds, the film reinforces Rajamouli’s unparalleled ability to craft visually spectacular, emotionally resonant blockbusters that transcend regional and linguistic boundaries.

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