{"id":732321,"date":"2026-08-09T08:34:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T08:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/732321\/"},"modified":"2026-08-09T08:34:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T08:34:09","slug":"mahesh-babus-look-in-s-s-rajamoulis-varanasi-unveiled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/732321\/","title":{"rendered":"Mahesh Babu’s Look in S.S. Rajamouli’s ‘Varanasi’ Unveiled"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tTwo new character stills of Mahesh Babu<\/a> from S.S. Rajamouli<\/a>\u2018s \u201cVaranasi<\/a>\u201d were released Sunday to mark the actor\u2019s birthday, showing his character Rudhra on location in Africa.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe film\u2019s story spans thousands of years and traverses multiple continents, with locations ranging from Antarctica to Africa to the titular Indian city. Babu plays the dual roles of the protagonist Rudhra and Hindu God Rama, Priyanka Chopra Jonas<\/a> plays a character named Mandakini and the main antagonist Kumbha is played by Prithviraj Sukumaran.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe images were shot at the Kilimanjaro and Maasai Mara locations, two of the African settings featured in the film. In one still, Mahesh Babu reclines on a bamboo raft in a jungle setting, dressed in a loose olive-toned shirt and dark cargo trousers, with tousled curly hair and a full beard. The other image shows him in profile against the African savannah, with giraffes and zebras visible in the background.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tMahesh Babu \u2013 \u201cVaranasi\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSri Durga Arts\/Showing Business<\/p>\n

\n\tRajamouli described the character\u2019s dual nature in a note accompanying the stills. \u201cRudhra was born to fulfil a purpose much larger than himself. He carries a destiny he did not ask for. He is witty, he is vulnerable, and he is fierce. That is what Mahesh brought to him. Anyone can play fierce. Very few can play fierce and fragile in the same breath,\u201d he said in an Instagram post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe director also reflected on the Africa shoot itself. \u201cThese frames are from our Africa schedule, and the land gave us something no set could. Shooting around Kilimanjaro and in the Masai Mara, I was stunned. There were mornings I felt even the 1.43:1 Imax frame could not hold what was in front of us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe stills mark the latest in a series of character reveals from the production, following images of Priyanka Chopra Jonas <\/a>released for her birthday.<\/p>\n

\n\tBabu, who spent a year preparing for the role, underwent three months of Kalari martial arts training solely to adjust his posture for the character\u2019s period-appropriate bearing. \u201cI\u2019m playing Lord Rama\u2019s character, it required posture\u2026 you can\u2019t stand like modern characters,\u201d he has said to Variety<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tHe also trained with a track and field team for several months to modify his running style. \u201cWhen I saw the shot, I was really happy. It was worth it, because that six months of training for that one shot was really worth it,\u201d he said. \u201cThe way I walked changed, the way I stood changed, everything changed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cVaranasi\u201d is Rajamouli\u2019s follow-up to the Academy Award-winning \u201cRRR.\u201d M.M. Keeravani, who won the Oscar for \u201cRRR\u2019s\u201d \u201cNaatu Naatu,\u201d is returning to score the new film.<\/p>\n

\u201cVaranasi\u201d opens in theaters worldwide on April 7, 2027.<\/p>\n