Mumbai: The buzz around Varanasi, the much-awaited magnum opus by director S. S. Rajamouli, has reached a new high after a striking hoarding featuring Mahesh Babu as Lord Ram surfaced outside a theatre in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. The surprise announcement has swept the social media leaving fans excited and wondering what the grand vision of the film is.
Despite the fact that earlier on, Rajamouli had confirmed that Mahesh Babu would feature in a significant part of the story as Sri Ram, there had not yet been an official poster or a still released. This is why the appearance of the divine look on a digital hoarding was met with so much excitement, immediately turning into a trending topic on all platforms.
Theatre hoarding sparks massive online excitement
The hoarding reportedly appeared outside a popular theatre in Guntur and showed Mahesh Babu dressed in a glowing Ram avatar. The actor was holding a legendary Kodanda bow with the text, which read, Mahesh Babu as Sri Ram, being projected on the display. Although the makers have not officially published the image, it was captured on the spot and soon disseminated through the Internet, and fans refer to it as a goosebumps-inducing one.
Within hours, the leaked look was shared widely, with many praising Mahesh Babu’s calm, divine presence and regal posture. The image was available on several fan pages and movie enthusiasts who saw it termed it as being powerful, spiritual and beautiful, further boosting the already high expectations of the project.
Rajamouli’s emotional reaction and Mahesh Babu’s intense preparation
Rajamouli had announced during the title and launch of the film Varanasi that the crew spent almost 60 days filming one episode of Ramayana, which he described as a dream-come-true moment. He told us that he never thought that he would have a chance to shoot an episode inspired by the Ramayana on such a huge scale.
Recalling the first photoshoot, the director said that he got goosebumps when Mahesh Babu appeared in Lord Ram’s look for the very first time. Mahesh, according to him, possesses Krishna and Rama traits of charm and calm respectively, which is a rare feast which made him so sure about the casting. He even made that original photo his phone wallpaper at some point before taking it off to prevent any leaks.
Mahesh Babu, in an interview with Screen Rant Plus, spoke about the intense preparation demanded by Rajamouli for the role. The actor also spent three months training intensively in Kalaripayattu which is an ancient martial arts of Kerala. He also did a great deal of postural training, in the manner of walking and fine body movements, to depict the elegance, power and discipline of Lord Ram.
More about ‘Varanasi’
Varanasi is a global across-the-world adventure movie that bridges several timelines and nations, inspired by references to Ramayana. The film features Priyanka Chopra along with Prithviraj Sukumaran in key roles together with Mahesh Babu.
Mounted on an extraordinary scale, the film promises breathtaking visuals, emotional depth, and a powerful narrative. Varanasi is already being hailed as one of the largest Indian movies in production with its ambitious plot and the well-known storytelling abilities of Rajamouli.
The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027. Until the makers formally reveal the appearance of Mahesh Babu in the role of Ram, the hoarding, which was leaked, remains the major topic of the online discussion and leaves the fans anxiously glued to it, counting the days before the next release.
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