Varanasi movie: SS Rajamouli, the creator of the cult-favourite Baahubali franchise, has once again taken the film industry by storm. As fans await the Mahesh Babu-Rajamouli comeback after more than a decade, the Globetrotter event finally unveiled the teaser for their upcoming project, Varanasi. Attended by over 50,000 fans in Hyderabad, global icon and leading actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas made an appearance too.
Marking her comeback to Indian cinema after 6 years, this is not a landmark project for Rajamouli loyalists, but also PeeCee fans. It is said to be Rajamouli’s biggest one yet. The time-travel adventure film has garnered huge praise from the audience, fans, and fellow filmmakers. With music from MM Keeravani, the ‘Varanasi’ is set to be released in the summer of 2027. With such hype, more than two years ahead in time, fans will surely not be disheartened.
Mahesh Babu will be playing Rudhra, while Priyanka Chopra will take the role of Mandakini and L2: Empuraan’s Prithviraj Sukumaran will play Kumbha. Rajamouli, during the Globetrotter event, revealed that several sequences of the film have been inspired by the Ramayana and feature exquisite visual effects and graphics.
SS Rajamouli’s biggest blockbusters of all time
Baahubali: The Beginning
Released in 2015, this was the beginning of the Baahubali saga. A historical moment for Indian cinema, it starred Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, and Tamannaah. Based on a fictitious mythology, Baahubali boasts massive sets, expert cinematography, and advanced VFX. The film’s gripping storyline opened a unique intrigue in the palace of Mahishmati.
Baahubali: The Beginning made over Rs 600 crore on the global box office, cutting across all boundaries. The cultural buzz was amplified by the now-iconic question, “Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?” It quickly became a cultural phenomenon and set the stage for one of the most eagerly awaited sequels.
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
Released two years later in 2017, the sequel and final part soared expectations. Grossing nearly Rs 1000 crore at the international box office, it picked up from the cliffhanger and took fans on a great insight into the Baahubali mystery. The Hindi dubbed version even surpassed several big Bollywood releases, proving just how widely the film connected with audiences. Its storytelling and universal appeal also brought global praise, earning it three National Awards and the Saturn Award for Best International Film. With Baahubali 2, Rajamouli firmly established himself as a world-class filmmaker.
RRR
RRR (2022) reshaped Indian cinema with its revolutionary take on freedom fighters Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem. Starring the evergreen Ram Charan and Jr. NTR, RRR was a blend of history, myth, and blockbuster action. The film became a pure cinematic spectacle. It opened with a record-breaking Rs 240 crore worldwide and went on to earn over Rs 1,200 crore globally, becoming one of India’s biggest international hits. RRR also conquered awards season—winning the Oscar for Naatu Naatu and earning major global honours, including the NYFCC Best Director award.
Maghadheera
Magadheera marked a turning point in Telugu cinema, delivering a grand reincarnation drama led by Ram Charan and Kajal Aggarwal. Rajamouli blended historical romance, fantasy, and large-scale action in the film and delivered it with remarkable technical polish. The graphics were a treat to the viewers and were far ahead of their time.
The film became the highest-grossing Telugu release then, earning around Rs 150 crore worldwide. Its stylish choreography, impressive VFX, and sweeping storytelling brought home several honours, including the Nandi Award for Best Director and multiple Filmfare Awards South.
Eega
Eega or popularly remembered as Makkhi for Hindi viewers, was Rajamouli’s brilliance at its best. This unique revenge plot had the classic reincarnation angle, combining VFX, romance, and drama. The emotional depth of this film can only be understood by the true Rajamouli fans.
After grossing Rs 125 crore in 2012 during its theatrical release, it became a viral sensation across all languages, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam. Eega won multiple awards for not only its direction, but also its animation.
