Mahesh Babu - VARANASI | Rudra

Mahesh Babu as Rudhra in Varanasi (2027) In S.S. Rajamouli's monumental time-travel epic Varanasi, Mahesh Babu unleashes a career-defining force of nature as Rudhra—a devout Shiva follower thrust into a labyrinthine quest across millennia to unearth a cosmic artifact that could shatter the fabric of destiny. This isn't the suave rom-com hero or action star of his Telugu blockbusters; here, Rudhra is a storm incarnate, a bearded warrior with blood-streaked resolve, wielding a trident like divine wrath and charging through history on the back of a sacred bull, his eyes burning with the fury of gods and men alike. From the mist-shrouded ghats of ancient Kashi to pulse-pounding battles inspired by the Ramayana—where whispers suggest Mahesh channels Lord Ram himself in dual-layered glory—Rudhra navigates betrayals, timelines, and an insidious mastermind (Prithviraj Sukumaran's chilling Kumbha) hell-bent on eternal dominion. With Priyanka Chopra Jonas as the enigmatic Mandakini by his side, Mahesh infuses Rudhra with raw vulnerability beneath the armor: a man haunted by echoes of forgotten eras, rewriting fate not just for the world, but for his own fractured soul. Filmed in Premium Large Format for IMAX, Varanasi is Rajamouli's boldest canvas yet—a Rs 1000-crore odyssey blending mythology, sci-fi, and globetrotting spectacle. Mahesh Babu doesn't just star; he embodies the divine chaos, delivering a performance so visceral, so transcendent, it'll etch Rudhra into the pantheon of cinematic legends. Brace yourself: when Rudhra rides, history trembles.