Mahesh Babu’s birthday brought a fresh glimpse into one of the most anticipated Indian films currently in production. S.S. Rajamouli has unveiled two new stills of Babu as Rudhra from Varanasi, and this time the character is seen against the wild landscapes of Africa. The images offer a closer look at the actor’s rugged appearance while also highlighting the scale of the locations being used for the globe-spanning adventure. Varanasi is scheduled to arrive in cinemas worldwide on April 7, 2027.
The newly released frames were captured during the production’s Africa schedule around Kilimanjaro and the Maasai Mara. In one image, Babu’s Rudhra is seen relaxing on a bamboo raft surrounded by dense greenery, wearing an olive-toned shirt and dark cargo trousers with tousled curly hair and a full beard. The second frame places him against the African savannah, with giraffes and zebras visible behind him. Rather than presenting Rudhra through another conventional promotional pose, the images give the character a strong connection to the natural world surrounding him.
Rajamouli Explains Rudhra’s Fierce Side
For Rajamouli, the new images are not simply about revealing what Mahesh Babu looks like in Varanasi. The director used the birthday reveal to explain the personality he wanted from Rudhra, describing him as someone carrying a destiny much bigger than his own choices. His description also suggests that the character will not be defined only by physical strength, with vulnerability playing an equally important role.
“Rudhra was born to fulfil a purpose much larger than himself. He carries a destiny he did not ask for. He is witty, he is vulnerable, and he is fierce. That is what Mahesh brought to him. Anyone can play fierce. Very few can play fierce and fragile in the same breath,” Rajamouli said in an Instagram post.
The director also emphasized how important the African locations were to the visual identity of the film. “These frames are from our Africa schedule, and the land gave us something no set could. Shooting around Kilimanjaro and in the Masai Mara, I was stunned. There were mornings I felt even the 1.43:1 Imax frame could not hold what was in front of us,” he said.
That detail is particularly interesting because Varanasi is being mounted on an unusually large visual canvas. The film has been described as a globe-trotting adventure moving across locations and eras, and its production has included Africa as well as other major international settings. Rajamouli has previously indicated that the film draws on the scale and spirit of adventure cinema, making the real landscapes an important part of the storytelling rather than simply background decoration.
Mahesh Babu Changed His Body Language
The new stills also make more sense when viewed alongside the preparation Mahesh Babu has described for the role. The actor has previously said that he spent around a year preparing for Varanasi, including three months of Kalari training specifically to change his posture. His reason was connected to the film’s depiction of Lord Rama, where he felt a contemporary actor’s body language would not fit the character.
“I’m playing Lord Rama’s character, it required posture… you can’t stand like modern characters,” Babu previously told Variety. He also underwent additional training with a track and field team for several months because the production wanted to alter the way he ran on screen. According to the actor, the preparation ultimately changed more than just his movement during action scenes.
“When I saw the shot, I was really happy. It was worth it, because that six months of training for that one shot was really worth it,” he said. “The way I walked changed, the way I stood changed, everything changed.”
That preparation gives the new Rudhra images another layer. The rugged beard, longer hair and relaxed clothing immediately separate this version of Babu from the polished contemporary looks audiences usually associate with the actor. More importantly, Rajamouli’s comments suggest that the performance will require Babu to balance physical intensity with vulnerability rather than simply play an invincible action hero.
Varanasi Brings Mahesh, Priyanka and Prithviraj Together
Varanasi is shaping up as a major international production, with the story moving across thousands of years and multiple parts of the world. Mahesh Babu is playing Rudhra as well as the film’s portrayal of Lord Rama, while Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran takes on the role of the principal antagonist, Kumbha. The combination gives Rajamouli a cast that brings together major names from Telugu cinema, Bollywood and Malayalam cinema.
The Africa schedule has already become one of the production’s talking points. Mahesh Babu previously recalled shooting in Kenya’s Maasai Mara and described the experience of working among wild animals as something he would not forget. He said the presence of the animals initially made the shoot intimidating, but after a short time, the cameras and crew seemed to disappear and the actors felt immersed in the landscape.
The film is also significant because it marks Rajamouli’s first feature collaboration with Mahesh Babu. Following the worldwide success of RRR, expectations around the director’s next project were already enormous, and pairing him with one of Telugu cinema’s biggest stars has pushed that anticipation even higher. The addition of Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran further gives the project a broad Indian and international profile.
M.M. Keeravani is also returning to work with Rajamouli after their Oscar-winning success with RRR. Keeravani won the Academy Award for “Naatu Naatu,” and his involvement adds another familiar creative link between Rajamouli’s previous global breakthrough and this new project. Varanasi is scheduled to release worldwide on April 7, 2027.
Varanasi Mahesh Babu Look Q&A
Who plays Rudhra in Varanasi?
Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, the central character of S.S. Rajamouli’s Varanasi. Babu is also set to portray Lord Rama in the film’s story.
What do the new Varanasi stills show?
The new stills show Mahesh Babu as Rudhra during the film’s Africa schedule. One places him on a bamboo raft in a jungle setting, while another shows him against the African savannah with giraffes and zebras visible in the background.
Where were the new Mahesh Babu images shot?
The images were captured around Kilimanjaro and the Maasai Mara, two African locations used during the production of Varanasi. Rajamouli has highlighted the importance of filming in the real landscapes.
Who stars opposite Mahesh Babu in Varanasi?
Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Mandakini, while Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the antagonist Kumbha. Mahesh Babu leads the film as Rudhra.
When will Varanasi release?
Varanasi is scheduled to release worldwide on April 7, 2027. The date was officially announced by S.S. Rajamouli in January 2026.
Why did Mahesh Babu undergo Kalari training?
Babu said he trained in Kalari partly to change his posture for the period-specific portrayal connected to Lord Rama. He also underwent track and field training to modify his running style for the film.
