New Mahesh Babu Stills From S.S. Rajamouli's 'Varanasi' Reveal Rudhra in the African Wild
Two new character stills of Mahesh Babu as Rudhra from S.S. Rajamouli's upcoming film Varanasi were released on Sunday, 9 August 2026, to mark the actor's birthday. The images, credited to Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business, were shot on location at Kilimanjaro and the Maasai Mara in Africa, according to Variety.
One still shows Babu reclining on a bamboo raft in a jungle setting — loose olive-toned shirt, dark cargo trousers, tousled curly hair, a full beard. The other places him in profile against the African savannah, with giraffes and zebras visible in the background. They follow a pair of first-look images of Priyanka Chopra Jonas, released last month for her birthday, which introduced her character Mandakini to the public (Deadline).
Varanasi is Rajamouli's follow-up to RRR, the 2022 Telugu-language epic whose song "Naatu Naatu" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. M.M. Keeravani, the composer behind that Oscar-winning track, returns to score the new film. The story spans thousands of years and traverses multiple continents, with locations ranging from Antarctica to Africa to the titular Indian city. Babu plays dual roles: the protagonist Rudhra and the Hindu deity Rama. Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the main antagonist, Kumbha, and the cast also includes Prakash Raj.
The film was originally titled Globe Trotter before being renamed Varanasi (Economic Times). Rajamouli first introduced the Rudhra look on stage to applause in November 2025, when the title change was also confirmed.
Babu spent a year preparing for the role. That preparation included three months of Kalaripayattu — an Indian martial art — to adjust his posture for the character, and several months training with a track and field team to modify his running style. Rajamouli described the actor's work discipline as "unprecedented" (Variety).
Varanasi opens in theatres worldwide on 7 April 2027.
For a production that sends its cast from Antarctic ice to the ghats of Varanasi, these two African stills are the latest measured reveal — each timed to a birthday, each widening the frame by one more continent. The release calendar still sits eight months away, and Rajamouli's marketing has so far let the images do the talking.
