Mahesh Babu Birthday Surprise: ‘Varanasi’ Team Drops Stunning New Stills as Rudra

Superstar Mahesh Babu’s birthday has brought a special treat for fans, with the makers of SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi unveiling two exclusive stills from the much-awaited adventure. The newly released photographs feature Mahesh Babu as Rudra and were captured during the film’s grand Africa schedule.

Shot in Kenya against the spectacular backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, the stills offer a fresh glimpse of Mahesh Babu’s look in the film. While Rudra has already been described as a fierce character, Rajamouli has hinted that there is much more to him than just his aggressive side.

Talking about the Africa schedule, Rajamouli revealed that filming around Kilimanjaro and the Masai Mara was an extraordinary experience. The filmmaker even noted that the breathtaking scale of the locations sometimes felt too vast for the film’s 1.43:1 IMAX frame to fully capture.

The latest stills have also added to the mystery surrounding Rudhra. Mahesh Babu is expected to portray multiple shades in this ambitious time-travel adventure, which travels across several locations around the world. The film is also said to feature the superstar as Lord Rama in a Ramayana sequence, adding a strong mythological element to the narrative.

Interestingly, instead of releasing a video glimpse for Mahesh Babu’s birthday, the makers opted for character stills, following a similar promotional strategy used for Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ birthday. Though fans may have expected footage, the new images have only increased curiosity around the film.

Produced by KL Narayana, Varanasi features Priyanka Chopra Jonas as the female lead and Prithviraj Sukumaran in a key role. With its massive international backdrop, time-travel concept, mythology, and Rajamouli’s ambitious vision, the film is already among the most awaited Indian projects.

Varanasi is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027.