The long-anticipated Globetrotter event for Varanasi, director S.S. Rajamouli’s next epic starring Mahesh Babu, unfolded in Hyderabad today under unexpected circumstances. Hours before the official unveiling of the film’s title and first glimpse, key visuals began circulating online after an unauthorized drone recorded footage during a technical rehearsal.
Addressing the incident on stage, Rajamouli expressed clear disappointment. “Despite taking extensive precautions last night, someone managed to film the test visuals with a drone and leak them,” he said. He noted that the team had sourced top-tier LED screens and arranged multiple power units to create the perfect setup, only for the surprise reveal to be compromised. “We brought in dozens of generators for this, but it all went to waste,” he added.
A Glimpse Revealed Too Soon
The leaked clip, captured during the recce, exposed Mahesh Babu’s look and the film’s title — elements meant to be debuted exclusively at the event. The breach overshadowed what was intended to be a major moment for one of Indian cinema’s most ambitious films.
A Globe-Trotting, Time-Bending Adventure
Varanasi is envisioned as a large-scale adventure that transports its protagonist across continents and eras. Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, an explorer and time traveler inspired partly by African folklore and classic pulp adventurers like Indiana Jones. The film marks Rajamouli’s first collaboration with the Telugu superstar, adding to the excitement surrounding the project.
Joining Mahesh, Priyanka Chopra Jonas stars as Mandakini, a fierce femme fatale, while Prithviraj Sukumaran takes on the role of Kumbha, the film’s mythic, supervillain-like antagonist. Prithviraj revealed that he was “blown away” just minutes into the narration, praising the film’s scale and ambition.
Awaiting the Release Timeline
Although the makers have yet to issue an official confirmation, industry reports indicate that Varanasi is eyeing a March 25, 2027 theatrical release, with production expected to wrap by late 2026.
Despite the unfortunate leak, the Hyderabad event went ahead as planned, offering fans their first formal look at Rajamouli’s next grand cinematic universe — one blending mythology, exploration, time travel, and the scale synonymous with his filmmaking.