On July 18, 2026, director S.S. Rajamouli unveiled the first look at Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini in Varanasi, timing the reveal to the actor's 44th birthday. The film's official channels shared the image with the caption: "And there she is… our Mandakini Happy Birthday @priyankachopra.. #VARANASI"
The first look places Chopra in a dark, high-collared silhouette. The structured, corset-style design carries a gothic and warrior-inflected quality. It is the first visual register for her character in the film.
Varanasi is Rajamouli's first feature since RRR, the 2022 epic that won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu." The new film is an epic time-travel action adventure. Its story follows a devoted seeker on a dangerous journey across time in pursuit of a lost cosmic artifact. As the mission unfolds, the seeker discovers the force guiding it harbors its own ambitions.
Mahesh Babu leads the cast. Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the antagonist Kumbha. MM Keeravani, who composed "Naatu Naatu" and accepted its Oscar, returns as the film's composer, reuniting the central creative team from RRR.
The film is produced by Sri Durga Arts and opens in theaters worldwide on April 7, 2027.