06 February,2026 07:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
SS Rajamouli
Filmmaker SS Rajamouli's much-awaited magnum opus, Varanasi, is one of the most anticipated films. Despite being more than a year away from release, the film has already garnered a sizable portion of fans who are eagerly awaiting the Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra starrer. The striking teaser of the film, which was released last year, has further heightened the anticipation. Amid this, the filmmaker has now shared more insights into the project.
Rajamouli has confirmed that Varanasi draws inspiration from the epic Ramayana. He also expressed his confidence that the story will resonate even with the audience who are unfamiliar with the epic. While talking to Polygon, the director revealed, "All my films are inspired by the epics of (Lord) Rama. In this film, I have a chance to actually take an actual episode from the Ramayana itself and present it in this way."
Further addressing the concerns that audiences would need prior knowledge of Ramayana to make sense of the film, the Baahubali director stated that accessibility remains his responsibility as a storyteller. "It is my job to make you not feel lost, to make the film in such a way that it's not taxing your mind. You might not understand the whole story of Rama, but there is no need to. If you understand the emotions of the characters, you'll understand what is happening," he said.
SS Rajamouli also revealed that the film's central emotional setting revolves around the relationship between a father and son, reflecting the bond between Rama and King Dasharatha. Speaking about the evolving dynamic between Rudra, portrayed by Mahesh Babu, and Mandakini, a mysterious thief portrayed by Priyanka Chopra, he shared, "It's so endearing and relatable. Even when the canvas is gigantic, it's these emotions that people will resonate with."
Varanasi also stars Prithviraj Sukumaran and is being described as one of Rajamouli's most ambitious ventures to date. The film is reportedly being shot for IMAX and hence promises a visual scale unlike anything else attempted before. Varanasi is expected to release theatrically on April 7, 2027.
