The two images carry different frequencies. In the first, Rudhra rests on a bamboo raft, moving through dense jungle with calm that reads as concentration. In the second, he stands in the open plains of Kenya's Maasai Mara, wildlife around him, something unspoken ahead. S.S. Rajamouli released both stills on Mahesh Babu's birthday, framing the reveal less as publicity and more as character introduction.
"Rudhra was born to fulfil a purpose much larger than himself," Rajamouli wrote. "He carries a destiny he did not ask for. He is witty, he is vulnerable, and he is fierce. Anyone can play fierce. Very few can play fierce and fragile in the same breath."
Varanasi is the director's follow-up to RRR, the acclaimed Indian epic. Mahesh Babu plays the dual roles of Rudhra and the Hindu god Rama. Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Mandakini. Prithviraj Sukumaran is the antagonist Kumbha. Prakash Raj also appears in a significant role.
Photography is approximately 80 percent complete. Major sequences were shot near Mount Kilimanjaro and across the Maasai Mara. Remaining work continues in Hyderabad. Rajamouli noted that certain locations challenged even the 1.43:1 IMAX frame. Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravani returns to score. The film opens worldwide in IMAX on April 7, 2027.