Renowned filmmaker SS Rajamouli has sent waves of excitement through the Indian film industry by revealing that his upcoming mega-budget fantasy film Varanasi features a crucial sequence inspired by the epic Ramayana. The revelation came during the grand title launch event held at Hyderabad's Ramoji Film City on Saturday, November 16, 2025.
The Ramayana Connection
During the highly anticipated event, Rajamouli shared his profound connection with Indian epics, stating that the Ramayana and Mahabharata have been his dream projects since childhood. "I never imagined I would get to shoot an important episode from the Ramayana this early," the acclaimed director expressed with visible emotion. "While writing every scene and every dialogue, I felt like I was floating."
This isn't the first time Rajamouli has drawn from mythological sources. His previous blockbusters, including the Baahubali franchise and RRR, featured subtle references to Hindu deities. However, Varanasi marks his most direct engagement with epic storytelling to date.
Mahesh Babu's Divine Transformation
The director's most heartfelt revelation concerned lead actor Mahesh Babu's transformation into Lord Rama. Rajamouli confessed that seeing the superstar in full Rama attire during the photoshoot gave him goosebumps. "Mahesh has the charm of Krishna, but the calmness of Rama," the filmmaker observed, highlighting the unique qualities the actor brings to this divine role.
Rajamouli's admiration was so profound that he temporarily set the photograph as his wallpaper, though he later removed it. The sequence featuring Mahesh Babu as Rama required an extensive 60-day shooting schedule, recently completed after numerous challenges. According to Rajamouli, every episode felt like filming an entire movie, requiring fresh planning and reimagining at every step.
Production Challenges and Security Concerns
The event also addressed the unfortunate leak of the Varanasi teaser footage. Rajamouli explained that the leak occurred during technical tests for the launch event when a drone captured unauthorized footage. "That is one year of our hard work, thousands of hours by hundreds of people, and crores of rupees all leaked because of one drone flying randomly," he lamented.
The technical setup for the event itself was massive, requiring more than 45 generators to power state-of-the-art LED panels. The security breach has left the production team concerned about potential future leaks, forcing them to reconsider their testing protocols.
Star-Studded Cast and Expectations
Varanasi, previously known by its working title Globetrotter, features an impressive ensemble cast including Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film is described as an adventure fantasy that will likely showcase Rajamouli's signature grandeur and storytelling prowess.
With the Ramayana sequence now complete and the title officially revealed, anticipation for Varanasi has reached fever pitch among fans and cinephiles alike. The film promises to blend Indian mythological elements with contemporary filmmaking techniques, creating what could be another landmark in Indian cinema.
