Key Highlights
- Almost done: Producer S S Karthikeya told IANS that only four to five days of shooting remain on Varanasi.
- Post-production timeline: Post-production is running alongside the shoot and should be completed by January 2027.
- Release: The film releases worldwide on April 7, 2027, in IMAX.
- A first for India: Varanasi is the first Indian and first non-English film shot in the 1.43:1 IMAX format.
- The cast: Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra plays Mandakini, and Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the antagonist Kumbha.
S S Rajamouli's Varanasi, one of the most anticipated films in Indian cinema, is nearing the finish line. Producer S S Karthikeya told IANS that the film has only a few days of shooting left and that post-production is moving fast.
"We only have four to five days of shooting left to go for completing the film. Post production work on 'Varanasi' is happening simultaneously. It is progressing at a brisk pace and we should be done with everything by January next year," he said.
Karthikeya was speaking on the sidelines of a pre-release event for his next production, Don't Trouble the Trouble, which stars Fahadh Faasil.
Why It Matters: A Comfortable Buffer Before Release
If post-production wraps by January, the team would have roughly two to three months before the April 7, 2027 release. For a film of this scale, shot in IMAX with heavy visual effects, that buffer matters. It leaves time for final checks, IMAX mastering and a global promotional campaign, and suggests the release date is on track.
About Varanasi
Varanasi stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran. It is produced by Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business, with music by M M Keeravani. Rajamouli co-wrote the film with V. Vijayendra Prasad.
It is Rajamouli's first film since the 2022 blockbuster RRR, which won international acclaim, including an Oscar for Best Original Song.
Why April 7?
The release date was confirmed on January 30 this year, after hoardings reading "In theatres, April 7, 2027" appeared across the city of Varanasi. The date coincides with the festival of Ugadi.
Made for IMAX
Varanasi is the first Indian film, and the first non-English film, to be shot in the 1.43:1 IMAX format. Rajamouli has referred to this frame while describing the film's Africa schedule.
"Rudhra was born to fulfill a purpose much larger than himself. He carries a destiny he did not ask for. He is witty, he is vulnerable, and he is fierce. That is what Mahesh brought to him. Anyone can play fierce. Very few can play fierce and fragile in the same breath. These frames are from our Africa schedule, and the land gave us something no set could. Shooting around Kilimanjaro and in the Maasai Mara, I was stunned. There were mornings when I felt even the 1.43:1 IMAX frame could not hold what was in front of us," the director said.
A Globe-Trotting, Time-Spanning Epic
Earlier, the makers released two stills showing Mahesh Babu's Rudhra, one resting on a bamboo raft in a dense jungle and another standing amid giraffes and wildlife in Kenya's Maasai Mara.
The film's title was revealed on November 15, 2025, at a massive event called GlobeTrotter at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, reportedly attended by over 50,000 people. The glimpse unveiled there featured locations such as Antarctica, Varanasi and Kenya, and time periods including 512 CE, 2027 CE and the Tretayuga, hinting at a time-travel story.
Sources say the film is a century-spanning epic that takes one man from the sacred waters of India to the wildest corners of the earth.
The Characters So Far
- Mahesh Babu as Rudhra
- Priyanka Chopra as Mandakini
- Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha, the antagonist
What Comes Next
With only a few shooting days left, the next milestones will be the official shoot wrap and the start of the film's global campaign. If the January post-production target holds, audiences can expect a steady flow of promotional material in the months leading up to April 7, 2027.
With inputs from IANS.