EXCLUSIVE: SSMB29 Titled ‘Varanasi’ – Mahesh Babu’s First Look, Time-Travel Plot, Ramayana Scenes & IMAX Details

Hyderabad, November 16, 2025: The wait is over. The biggest secret in Indian cinema is finally out. The mega-movie from director S.S. Rajamouli and Superstar Mahesh Babu is officially titled ‘Varanasi’.

This huge news was announced last night. The team held a massive “Globetrotter” event in Hyderabad on November 15. Thousands of fans and media were present. According to TrackTollywood, the event was a true spectacle. It unveiled the film’s title and a stunning first-glimpse video.

The glimpse video has shocked the nation. Mahesh Babu is playing a character named ‘Rudhra’. His look is intense and powerful. He is seen in a new, rugged avatar.

But this is not a simple action movie. The movie is a globe-trotting and time-traveling adventure. The Times of India reported that the teaser shows different timelines. It includes “Vaaranaasi 512CE” (ancient Kashi), “Trethayuga Lanka Nagaram 7200 BCE”, and the modern “Vaaranaasi Manikarnika Ghat”.

This confirms the film is very big. It mixes history, mythology, and modern action.

The Teaser: What We Saw

The first glimpse of ‘Varanasi’ is only a few minutes long. But it is packed with details. We see Mahesh Babu as Rudhra. He is an adventurer. In one shot, he is riding a bull. In another, he is holding a powerful trident (trishul).

The biggest surprise is a sequence from the Ramayana. The teaser shows a massive battle in “Trethayuga Lanka”. Fans are going wild because Mahesh Babu is seen in the avatar of Lord Rama.

At the event, S.S. Rajamouli spoke about this. He said he got goosebumps when he saw Mahesh Babu in the costume of Lord Rama.

Mahesh Babu also spoke. He was very emotional. He said, “My father (Superstar Krishna) always wanted me to do a mythological film. He believed it suited my personality. I did not listen then. Today, he will be blessing me from the skies.”

This Ramayana sequence is now the biggest talking point. It will be a major highlight of the film.

A Giant Star Cast

‘Varanasi’ is not just a Mahesh Babu film. It is a true pan-India and even global movie.

The event confirmed the full main cast.

• Priyanka Chopra Jonas is the female lead. She is returning to Indian cinema for this giant film. Her character’s name is ‘Mandakini’.
• Prithviraj Sukumaran, the superstar from Malayalam cinema, is playing the main villain. His character is named ‘Kumbha’.

This cast brings power from North, South, and (with Priyanka) Hollywood. The music is by Oscar-winner M.M. Keeravaani. The story is by Rajamouli’s father, V. Vijayendra Prasad. This is the ‘Baahubali’ and ‘RRR’ dream team.

What ‘Varanasi’ Means for the Box Office

This is Boxofficewala. We talk numbers. And the numbers for this film will be huge.

The title ‘Varanasi’ is a masterstroke. It immediately connects the entire nation. Varanasi (Kashi) is the spiritual capital of India. By setting the film there, Rajamouli is targeting the Hindi belt.

The ‘RRR’ North India box office was huge. But ‘Varanasi’ looks even bigger. The mix of action, adventure, and Hindu mythology (the Ramayana sequence) is a perfect recipe for success. It will appeal to all audiences.

Bollywood Hungama confirmed another huge detail. ‘Varanasi’ is the first Indian film to be “Filmed for IMAX”. This is a new premium large-scale format. It is not just a normal IMAX print. This means the movie was shot with special cameras.

For the box office, this is great news. Ticket prices for these premium screens will be very high. This will help the film break all opening day records.

The film is not releasing soon. The team is aiming for a Summer 2027 release. They will need all that time to finish the complex computer graphics (VFX).

Our Final Word

The ‘Globetrotter’ event was a massive success. The title ‘Varanasi’ is powerful. The first look of Mahesh Babu as Rudhra is a hit. The surprise of the Lord Rama sequence is a game-changer.

‘Baahubali’ changed Indian cinema. ‘RRR’ won an Oscar. ‘Varanasi’ looks like it will challenge both. S.S. Rajamouli is not just making a movie. He is building a cinematic event for the entire world.

We are now waiting for 2027. This film will make the whole country proud.

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Opinion & Methodology

Opinion

This is not a film. This is a 3000 Crore+ event. The team has played all the right cards.

1. Title: ‘Varanasi’ + ‘Ramayana’ connection. This is a 10/10 for the Hindi belt.
2. Hero: Mahesh Babu in a new, action-packed avatar. His fans are crazy.
3. Director: Rajamouli. He is the biggest brand in India.
4. Cast: Priyanka Chopra brings global appeal. Prithviraj brings pan-South respect.

Mark our words: The first-day collection of ‘Varanasi’ (Hindi) will be bigger than the first-day collection of ‘Varanasi’ (Telugu). This is the film that will truly unite all of Indian cinema. We are looking at a 1000 Crore+ opening weekend worldwide.

Methodology

To write this article, the Boxofficewala team used multiple sources. This article is a report of a real event.

1. Primary Source: Our reporting is based on the official “Globetrotter” title and first-look launch event, which took place in Hyderabad on November 15, 2025.
2. Trade Portals: We confirmed details by cross-referencing reports from leading industry trackers like TrackTollywood, The Times of India, and Bollywood Hungama.
3. Social Media Analysis: We analyzed the immediate fan and critic reactions on social media (like X, formerly Twitter) to gauge the response to the first glimpse and the Ramayana sequence.
4. Box Office Analysis: The box office predictions in our ‘Opinion’ section are based on our in-house tracking models. We compare the pre-release buzz of ‘Varanasi’ with historical data from ‘RRR’, ‘Baahubali 2’, and ‘KGF 2’.