Director S.S. Rajamouli released two new character stills of Mahesh Babu on Sunday, marking the actor’s birthday with the first extended look at Rudhra, the archaeologist-explorer he plays in “Varanasi.” The images show Babu on location in Africa, shot during production near Mount Kilimanjaro and in the Maasai Mara.
Rajamouli paired the release with a note describing the character’s dual nature. Rudhra “was born to fulfil a purpose much larger than himself,” the director wrote on Instagram, adding that the role demanded an actor who could play “fierce and fragile in the same breath.” He called the character witty, vulnerable and fierce, and praised Babu for bringing each of those shades to the screen.
The director also reflected on the shoot itself, saying the African landscape delivered visuals no studio set could replicate, and that some mornings even the film’s 1.43:1 IMAX frame felt too small to capture what stood in front of the camera.
“Varanasi” follows Rudhra, an archaeologist recruited for a dangerous mission after an asteroid named Shambhavi threatens the planet. His search for an ancient cosmic artifact carries the story across continents and centuries, with sequences set in India, Antarctica and Africa, and a narrative thread reaching back to the sixth century.
Babu also plays a second role, the Hindu god Rama, reflecting the film’s blend of mythology and science fiction. Priyanka Chopra Jonas co-stars as Mandakini, a historian and marksman, while Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the antagonist Kumbha. Shruti Haasan appears in a supporting role, and composer M.M. Keeravani, an Oscar winner for “Naatu Naatu” from Rajamouli’s “RRR,” is scoring the film.
Sunday’s stills follow a similar birthday reveal for Chopra Jonas earlier this year and arrive amid mounting anticipation for a project that has been in various stages of development since 2010, delayed repeatedly until Rajamouli completed “RRR.” Reports place the budget above ₹1,000 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian productions ever attempted. Babu reportedly spent a year preparing physically for the role.
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“Varanasi” is scheduled to open worldwide on April 7, 2027, positioned as a pan-continental adventure in the mold of the Indiana Jones and James Bond franchises, filtered through Indian mythology and shot substantially in IMAX format.
