Mahesh Babu Birthday Surprise: Rajamouli Drops New Stills from Varanasi

August 9, 2026 Published by rajeshe092eb6a68

Mahesh Babu’s birthday turned out to be special for fans of SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi, but not exactly in the way many were expecting. With the film currently in production, fans were hoping for a fresh video glimpse or a major update. Instead, the makers unveiled two new stills featuring Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, instantly grabbing attention online.

The newly released images present Mahesh Babu in a relaxed look, offering a different glimpse of his character. Rajamouli, while sharing the stills, revealed interesting details about Rudhra and his journey. According to the filmmaker, Rudhra is a man born with a purpose far greater than himself and is destined to carry a responsibility he never asked for.

Rajamouli also described Rudhra as a character who combines wit, vulnerability and fierceness. He praised Mahesh Babu for bringing both the powerful and vulnerable sides of the character to life, suggesting that there is much more to Rudhra than what these latest stills reveal.

Interestingly, the images were captured during the film’s Africa schedule, which took the team to locations around Kilimanjaro and the Maasai Mara. Rajamouli revealed that the grandeur of these locations was so immense that even the film’s 1.43:1 IMAX frame could barely contain them. The statement has further raised expectations for the visual scale of the film.

The makers had followed a similar promotional strategy for Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ birthday, releasing exclusive stills instead of a major video update. This time too, the team opted for photographs, despite fans strongly expecting a new glimpse of Mahesh Babu.

While the birthday surprise may have been smaller than anticipated, the new Rudhra stills have certainly added to the curiosity surrounding Varanasi. The film is shaping up as one of the biggest projects in Indian cinema, with Rajamouli once again working on a story that combines spectacle, emotion and a larger-than-life world.

Produced by KL Narayana and SS Karthikeya, ‘Varanasi’ stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran in key roles. Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravani is scoring the music. The film is scheduled for a grand theatrical release on April 7, 2027.