SS Rajamouli’s upcoming magnum opus Varanasi has become one of the most talked-about projects in Indian cinema, and fresh revelations from lead actor Mahesh Babu have only intensified the excitement. Following the official announcement that the film will hit theatres on April 7, 2027, interviews recorded after the film’s global promotional tour have begun surfacing online. In one such interaction, Mahesh Babu addressed the long-standing speculation surrounding the film’s narrative and confirmed that time travel is indeed a core element of Varanasi. His comments have given fans a clearer picture of what to expect from the ambitious collaboration with director SS Rajamouli.

Speaking about how the project finally came together after nearly 15 years of discussions, Mahesh Babu revealed that Rajamouli had never narrated a script to him during all that time. After completing RRR, the director reportedly took a year-long break, during which there was no communication about a new film, leaving the actor uncertain about their long-awaited collaboration. The turning point came when Rajamouli eventually invited him to his office and narrated the script of Varanasi. Mahesh Babu described the experience as mind-blowing and unlike anything Rajamouli had attempted before. According to the actor, the film seamlessly blends action, adventure, mythology, and time travel, creating a genre-defying narrative that immediately stood out to him. He admitted that while the scale and ambition of the story felt intimidating at first, Rajamouli’s clarity and vision gave him the confidence to take on the challenge.

The teaser released earlier had already sparked intense speculation, showing Mahesh Babu as Rudhra across multiple global locations, with timestamps hinting at different eras. While the makers remained tight-lipped at the time, Mahesh Babu’s confirmation now validates fan theories about time travel playing a significant role. Rajamouli himself had previously stated that the teaser was designed to plant subtle Easter eggs rather than reveal the plot outright. Alongside Mahesh Babu, the film stars Priyanka Chopra as Mandakini, while Prithviraj Sukumaran takes on the antagonist role of Kumbha. The music is composed by Oscar-winning MM Keeravani, with the story penned by V Vijayendra Prasad. With its ambitious blend of mythology and science fiction, Varanasi is shaping up to be a landmark film that could redefine genre storytelling in Indian cinema.