Ace filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s much-anticipated project ‘Varanasi’, starring Mahesh Babu in the lead, is officially slated for a grand theatrical release on April 7, 2027, aligning with the festive occasion of Ugadi. The announcement has further heightened expectations around the film, which marks the first collaboration between Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu.

According to a UNI report, ‘Varanasi’ will also make history as the first Indian film—and the first non-English film globally—to be shot in the 1.43:1 IMAX format, underscoring the scale and ambition of the project. The film is being positioned as a landmark cinematic experience, blending spectacle with rooted Indian storytelling.

An upcoming Telugu-language action-adventure fantasy, ‘Varanasi’ is directed by SS Rajamouli and co-written with his longtime collaborator V. Vijayendra Prasad. The film is being produced by Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business, and features a powerful cast that includes Prithviraj Sukumaran and Priyanka Chopra alongside Mahesh Babu.

Rajamouli has conceived the film as a globetrotting adventure deeply anchored in Indian cultural themes, drawing inspiration from the narrative structure and emotional sweep of classic adventure cinema. While discussions around a potential collaboration between Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu date back to 2010, the project took concrete shape only after the director completed his Oscar-winning blockbuster ‘RRR’ in 2022.

The film was formally launched with a traditional puja ceremony in January 2025, with principal photography beginning a month later in Hyderabad. Mounted on an estimated budget of Rs.1,300 crore (around $150 million), ‘Varanasi’ is set to rank among the most expensive Indian films ever produced.

The technical crew brings together some of the industry’s most respected names, with M. M. Keeravani composing the music, P. S. Vinod handling cinematography, and V. Srinivas Mohan leading the visual effects. With its scale, cast, and cutting-edge technology, ‘Varanasi’ is already being seen as one of the most ambitious Indian films in the global arena ahead of its 2027 release.