Varanasi (2027)

Varanasi is an upcoming Telugu action-adventure directed by S. S. Rajamouli, who writes the screenplay from a story by V. Vijayendra Prasad and S. S. Kanchi. Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, a dual role, in a story where the city of Varanasi faces the threat of an asteroid. The narrative moves across several yugas, from the Treta Yuga to the Kali Yuga, and across continents including Africa and Antarctica. Priyanka Chopra appears as Mandakini, Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the antagonist Kumbha, and Prakash Raj is also in the cast. Deva Katta writes the dialogues, M. M. Keeravani composes the music and P. S. Vinod is the cinematographer. K. L. Narayana and S. S. Karthikeya produce the film under Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business. Portions are shot in the 1.43:1 IMAX format, and the film is described as the first Indian production to shoot in Antarctica, on the Ross Ice Shelf. Other locations include Kenya, Koraput in Odisha and a motion-capture stage at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad. Varanasi is scheduled for release on 7 April 2027.