New Delhi, July 4, 2026: The upcoming collaborative masterpiece from Maverick director SS Rajamouli and Superstar Mahesh Babu, officially titled Varanasi, has sent the internet into an absolute frenzy. While the film has been generating intense global curiosity ever since its launch under the working title SSMB29, recent revelations about Mahesh Babu’s look as Lord Ram have completely redefined the level of hype surrounding this massive project. The leaked glimpses and official conceptual hints of the actor donning the divine avatar have gone viral across social media platforms, fueling massive anticipation for what is being hailed as one of Indian cinema’s most visually stunning sequences.
The internet went into a meltdown as discussions sparked around Mahesh Babu’s transformative look. Renowned for his charming, modern, and youthful screen presence, seeing the “Prince of Tollywood” shift into a classical, mythological role has taken both fans and cinephiles by surprise. According to industry insiders, the actor looks ethereal and intensely powerful as Lord Ram, perfectly balancing a serene divinity with the fierce aura of a warrior king. Fans have flooded networks with fan-art, edits, and theories, praising how effortlessly his sharp features and commanding stature adapt to the mythological character.
The 25-Minute Epic Ramayana Sequence
While Varanasi is structurally structured as a globetrotting, time-traveling action-adventure centered on a modern-day protagonist named Rudhra (played by Mahesh Babu), it seamlessly integrates ancient Indian mythology. Director SS Rajamouli recently revealed that the film features a massive 25-minute sequence directly inspired by the holy epic, the Ramayana. This sequence is not just a brief flashback; it is an incredibly intricate, multi-layered narrative block where Mahesh Babu fully embodies Lord Ram to battle formidable rakshasas (demons).
Rajamouli, who has previously spoken about his deep-rooted love for Indian epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, expressed immense pride in how this segment has shaped up. He disclosed that shooting just this 25-minute block felt like directing a standalone feature film. The sequence is a combination of multiple emotional and action-heavy “sub-episodes,” each bringing its own set of creative and technical challenges. Rajamouli admitted that on the first day of the look test, seeing Mahesh Babu fully costumed as Lord Ram gave him literal goosebumps and made him feel like he was “walking on air.”
To match the sheer scale of Rajamouli’s vision, Mahesh Babu underwent a grueling physical transformation that lasted nearly a year. Stepping away from the body language of contemporary action heroes, the actor had to completely reinvent how he carries himself. He trained intensely in Kalaripayattu (an ancient Indian martial art) for nearly three months to master traditional warrior postures, weapon handling, and a grounded, regal stance. Additionally, he worked closely with a dedicated track and field team for six months just to alter his running mechanics, ensuring that his movements on screen look raw, majestic, and entirely distinct from his modern character, Rudhra.
Unmatched Scale and Production Facts
Mounted on an eye-watering, record-breaking budget of ₹1,400 crore, Varanasi is officially the most expensive Indian film ever made. The production scale is incredibly massive, spanning multiple continents and extreme environments.
The Mastermind’s Final Sprint
In a recent global interaction, SS Rajamouli offered a crucial update on the film’s current status. He confirmed that the team has already successfully wrapped up the major, heavy-duty action spectacles—including the grueling 60-day shoot dedicated solely to the Ramayana sequence. As of early July 2026, only about 80 days of shooting remain, consisting of smaller narrative portions and patchworks. The director intends to fully wrap up principal photography by September or October 2026, allowing a generous, uninterrupted window of several months for the complex visual effects and post-production work required to bring this time-bending world to life.
By blending the high-stakes adrenaline of an Indiana Jones-style globe-trotting treasure hunt with the deep spiritual roots of ancient Indian history, Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu are aiming for nothing less than a global cinematic revolution. With a locked-and-loaded runtime of roughly three hours as a single, cohesive cinematic experience, Varanasi is firmly on track to rewrite box office history when it crashes into global theatres on April 7, 2027. Until then, the viral waves of Mahesh Babu’s divine look will undoubtedly keep the anticipation burning at an all-time high.
