Mahesh Babu’s Rudhra Look From Varanasi Unveiled on Birthday

• S.S. Rajamouli unveiled two new stills of Mahesh Babu as Rudhra from Varanasi on August 9, coinciding with the actor’s 51st birthday.
• The images were shot during the film’s Africa schedule around Mount Kilimanjaro and the Maasai Mara.
• Rajamouli described Rudhra as “witty”, “vulnerable” and “fierce”, highlighting the character’s emotional as well as physical dimensions.
• Varanasi stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran and is being made as a large-scale global action-adventure.
• Mahesh Babu has previously confirmed that he also portrays Lord Rama in a Ramayana-inspired section of the film.
• The film is scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027, and has been filmed in the 1.43:1 IMAX format.

S.S. Rajamouli marked Mahesh Babu’s 51st birthday on August 9 by unveiling two new stills of the actor as Rudhra from their much-awaited film Varanasi. Shot during the production’s Africa schedule, the images show Babu in a rugged, bearded avatar against dramatically different landscapes, offering a fresh glimpse of the character at the centre of the director’s globe-spanning action adventure.

One image places Rudhra on a bamboo raft surrounded by dense greenery, while another shows him against the African savannah, with wildlife visible in the background. The reveal gives audiences a quieter look at the character than some of the film’s earlier promotional material, which presented Rudhra in a more overtly heroic and action-oriented setting.

Rajamouli described Rudhra as a character carrying a purpose larger than himself. In his birthday message, the director characterised him as witty, vulnerable and fierce, saying Mahesh Babu had brought both strength and fragility to the role.

Rajamouli Highlights the Scale of the Africa Schedule

The new stills were captured during Varanasi’s Africa schedule, including filming around Mount Kilimanjaro and the Maasai Mara. Rajamouli said the landscapes offered a scale that could not be replicated on a conventional set and even challenged the visual possibilities of the film’s 1.43:1 IMAX presentation.

The Africa imagery reinforces the international scope of Varanasi. Rajamouli has described the project as a globetrotting adventure, with the production spanning multiple locations and incorporating elements of adventure, mythology and fantasy. Recent reporting has also identified Antarctica and other historical settings among the film’s wider geographical canvas.

The film is being presented in the 1.43:1 IMAX format, making it an unusually ambitious technical project for Indian cinema. The makers have scheduled its worldwide theatrical release for April 7, 2027.

Mahesh Babu’s Rudhra Has More Than One Dimension

The latest images deliberately move away from a straightforward action-hero presentation.

Babu appears with a full beard, untidy hair and practical outdoor clothing, while his relaxed posture contrasts with the imposing landscapes around him. That visual approach complements Rajamouli’s description of Rudhra as someone capable of combining vulnerability with physical strength.

The character also has a connection to the film’s mythological strand. Mahesh Babu confirmed earlier this year that he portrays Lord Rama in a section of Varanasi inspired by the Ramayana. He also discussed the physical preparation required for the role, including training to alter his posture and running style.

That information adds another layer to the latest Rudhra reveal, although the makers have continued to keep much of the film’s story under wraps.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran Join the Cast

Mahesh Babu leads the film alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran.

Chopra Jonas plays Mandakini, while Sukumaran plays Kumbha. The principal cast gives Varanasi a broad pan-Indian and international profile, with Chopra Jonas making a major return to an Indian production after her extended focus on international projects.

The film marks Rajamouli’s first feature collaboration with Mahesh Babu. It follows the director’s global success with RRR, whose song “Naatu Naatu” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. M.M. Keeravani, who composed the RRR score, is also returning for Varanasi.

From Africa to a 2027 Theatrical Release

The latest Rudhra images arrive as Varanasi moves closer to its final production and post-production stages.

The film’s release date has been officially set for April 7, 2027. The date was announced by the makers in January, replacing an earlier January 2027 window.

The project is being produced by K.L. Narayana under Sri Durga Arts, with S.S. Karthikeya’s Showing Business also involved in production. The film’s music is by M.M. Keeravani.

While the birthday reveal does not disclose major new plot details, it establishes a clearer visual identity for Rudhra and reinforces the scale of the film’s international setting.

For Mahesh Babu, the images also offer the clearest recent indication that Varanasi is taking him into a markedly different physical and dramatic space. For Rajamouli, the Africa reveal is another piece of a production designed around scale, location and large-format presentation.

With its April 2027 release approaching, the focus will now turn to further character reveals and promotional material as the makers gradually expand the world surrounding Rudhra, Mandakini and Kumbha.