Varanasi

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Varanasi is an upcoming Telugu epic action-adventure directed by S. S. Rajamouli, who co-wrote it with V. Vijayendra Prasad and S. S. Kanchi, and produced by Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business. Mahesh Babu plays a dual role, with Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran. It is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on 7 April 2027, at Ugadi. It is the first collaboration between Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu.

Varanasi release date

The makers announced 7 April 2027 as the release date in January 2026. In July 2026 Rajamouli said about 80 days of shooting remained, with the major action portions done, and India Today wrote that the film stayed on course for its April 2027 date. Reports in August and October 2026 (The Hindu, India Today) still give 7 April 2027. The release calendar on this site updates if the date changes.

What the film is about

Varanasi follows the adventures of Rudhra as the city of Varanasi faces the threat of an approaching asteroid, in a story that moves across yugas, from the Treta Yuga to the Kali Yuga, and across continents from Africa to Antarctica. Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra and Lord Rama. Rajamouli has described it as a globetrotting adventure in the style of Indiana Jones with Indian cultural roots, and told the Empire Film Podcast that he was “never fully satisfied” with how Indian epics have been put on screen. Wikipedia notes it is the first Indian film shot in the 1.43:1 IMAX format.

Cast and crew

• Mahesh Babu as Rudhra and as Lord Rama
• Priyanka Chopra as Mandakini
• Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha
• Prakash Raj

M. M. Keeravani composes the music. Filming began in Hyderabad on 2 February 2025 and moved to Odisha, sets of ancient Kashi in Koraput and Hyderabad, and locations in Kenya. Mahesh Babu’s first look as Rudhra was released on his birthday in August 2026.

Varanasi OTT platform

No streaming platform or OTT date has been announced. The OTT box on this page will show one when a platform or a dated trade report names it.

Sources: the Wikipedia article; India Today (1 July and 20 October 2026); The Hindu (9 August 2026); our own release records. This is a guide to an upcoming film, not a review.