Varanasi Nears Finish Line: SS Rajamouli's Mahesh Babu Epic Locks April 2027 Release
SS Rajamouli's most ambitious project yet, Varanasi, is finally approaching the finish line, with the makers targeting an April 2027 theatrical release.
The Telugu-language action-adventure epic stars Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha, in what is being billed as one of the most expensive and technically ambitious Indian films ever mounted, with a reported budget crossing ₹1,400 crore.
Rajamouli recently confirmed that the film's biggest and most demanding action spectacles have already been completed, with the crew now focused on shooting the smaller, character-driven scenes that connect the larger narrative.
According to the director, roughly 80 days of shooting remained as of mid-2026, with principal photography expected to wrap by late September or early October 2026.
This clears the runway for an intense post-production phase, which will include large-scale VFX work, sound design, and a background score by Oscar-winning composer M.M. Keeravani, who is expected to begin work on the film's music in September 2026.
Adding to the anticipation, Rajamouli has confirmed that Varanasi will not be split into multiple parts, unlike early speculation suggested. Instead, audiences will get a single, complete cinematic experience running close to three hours, including a much-talked-about thirty-minute battle sequence.
The film is also being crafted with IMAX presentation in mind, and its release is expected to coincide with the return of IMAX screens to Hyderabad — a detail Rajamouli has spoken about enthusiastically given the city's massive movie-going culture.
While hoardings across the city of Varanasi itself teased April 7, 2027 as the release date in a unique marketing push, the makers are also weighing potential clashes with other major 2027 releases before locking the date officially. Either way, with production entering its final stretch, Varanasi is shaping up to be one of Indian cinema's biggest global spectacles yet.
Key Highlights
- Targeted Release Date: April 2027 (April 7, 2027 has been widely teased via city-wide marketing)
- Director: S.S. Rajamouli, marking his first collaboration with Mahesh Babu
- Lead Cast: Mahesh Babu (Rudhra), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Mandakini), Prithviraj Sukumaran (Kumbha)
- Shooting Status: All major action spectacles are complete; only smaller connecting scenes remain
- Shoot Wrap Timeline: Expected to finish by late September or early October 2026
- Runtime & Format: A single, complete film of around three hours — confirmed not to be split into multiple parts
- Standout Sequence: A reported 30-minute battle sequence teased as one of the film's biggest highlights
- Music: Background score by M.M. Keeravani, set to begin in September 2026 and take about five months
- Viewing Format: Designed with IMAX presentation in mind, timed with IMAX's return to Hyderabad
- Budget: Reportedly one of the most expensive Indian films ever made, at approximately ₹1,400 crore
- Genre: Epic action-adventure spanning global locations and timelines
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