SS Rajamouli says Mahesh Babu gave ‘200 percent’ in ‘Varanasi’

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SS Rajamouli has heaped praise on Mahesh Babu for his work in 'Varanasi', saying the superstar went beyond what he had expected from him. The filmmaker revealed that while he initially expected the actor to give his best, Mahesh Babu ultimately delivered far more during the making of the upcoming action-adventure.

Rajamouli also explained why he does not cast actors solely based on their superstar status, saying the character always comes first.

SS Rajamouli praises Mahesh Babu’s work in 'Varanasi'

According to The Indian Express, Rajamouli discussed his approach to casting and his experience of working with Mahesh Babu while speaking to filmmaking students at Penn State University in the US. The director explained that he does not build his films around an actor’s star power.

Instead, he first looks for an actor who fits the character and then expects them to trust his direction.“I never choose an actor just because he is a superstar. I choose someone who truly fits the character. Once I choose them, I expect them to trust me, and I’ll guide them to give the performance the character needs,” he said.Rajamouli then spoke about Mahesh Babu, who plays Rudhra in 'Varanasi', and said he had expected the actor to give 100 percent to the role.

Rajamouli admitted that Mahesh Babu’s performance went well beyond his expectations.

“Yes, Mahesh Babu is a huge superstar. But with Mahesh Babu in 'Varanasi', I expected him to give 100 percent, because that’s what I know he is capable of,” Rajamouli said.He added, “But once I started working with him, he completely exceeded my expectations. He went beyond everything I had imagined and gave 200 percent.”The filmmaker further praised the actor for understanding the character and bringing more to the performance than he had anticipated.“He really nailed the character and surprised me with how much he brought to it. He did much more than I expected, and that made working with him on Varanasi a really special experience,” Rajamouli said.

What is Mahesh Babu’s 'Varanasi' about?

Varanasi is being positioned as a large-scale action-adventure featuring Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha. The film is directed by Rajamouli and produced by KL Narayana.

The story is expected to traverse multiple locations, time periods and settings. Rajamouli has previously revealed that the film’s narrative moves from Varanasi to Antarctica, Africa and Ancient Rome before returning to its starting point.

The director has also described the project as a standalone film rather than the beginning of a franchise.Reports have also described the film as a time-travel adventure, although several specific plot details circulating online have not been officially confirmed by the makers.

Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj headline 'Varanasi'

The film brings together Mahesh Babu and Rajamouli for the first time, with Priyanka Chopra Jonas making her Telugu debut alongside them. Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the antagonist Kumbha. The project also reunites Rajamouli with composer M. M. Keeravaani, who has scored several of the filmmaker’s major films.Production has been mounted on a large scale, with key sequences reportedly involving extensive visual effects and motion-capture work. The Indian Express has also reported that the film’s production has involved shoots across multiple continents.

When will 'Varanasi' release?

'Varanasi' is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027. The film is expected to release across multiple Indian languages and international markets.