Superstar Mahesh Babu is taking on a divine transformation for the first time in his career by portraying Lord Sriram in the highly anticipated Telugu film Varanasi, directed by SS Rajamouli. The official confirmation came during the film’s grand launch in Hyderabad, ending years of speculation surrounding Mahesh’s potential portrayal of a mythological character. Mahesh shared that although his father, Superstar Krishna, encouraged him to experiment with unique roles, the only suggestion he consistently disagreed with was playing God on screen. However, Rajamouli’s conviction and vision for Varanasi finally persuaded him to accept the role.
Rajamouli revealed that Mahesh appears as Lord Sriram in a visually powerful 30-minute sequence, recently completed by the team. He admitted he initially had doubts about imagining Mahesh in the divine role, but once the test shoot took place, he was completely stunned by the transformation. According to Rajamouli, Mahesh looked both graceful and intense, embodying the spirit and strength of Lord Sriram. This revelation has heightened expectations as fans eagerly anticipate seeing Mahesh portray a character he has long resisted playing.
In addition to the mythological element, Varanasi is breaking new ground by introducing Premium Large Scale Format IMAX technology to Telugu cinema. Rajamouli explained that most films are typically shot in cinema scope format and later converted into IMAX during post-production, as seen in Baahubali and RRR. But Varanasi marks a historic shift, being shot directly in full-screen IMAX format. This ensures unmatched clarity, scale, and immersion, giving audiences a complete IMAX experience without cropping or conversion. Rajamouli emphasized that this ambitious technological step aligns with the innovative spirit of Superstar Krishna, who introduced several new techniques to the industry. Now, his son Mahesh continues that legacy through this project.
Varanasi is shaping up as a mythological action adventure infused with time travel concepts, large-scale visuals, and Rajamouli’s signature world-building. Produced by Durga Arts in collaboration with Showing Business, the film promises to be a cinematic spectacle merging mythology with advanced filmmaking methods. With Mahesh Babu portraying Lord Sriram for the first time and Rajamouli redefining visual standards with new IMAX technology, Varanasi is expected to become one of the most influential films of the decade. Scheduled for a Summer 2027 release, the project continues to generate massive attention as production advances.
