Rajamouli Unveils Mahesh Babu's Rudhra Looks From Varanasi

On August 9, 2026, the makers of the highly anticipated film Varanasi unveiled two new looks of its lead star, Mahesh Babu, to mark his birthday. The images, released by director SS Rajamouli, offer the first detailed glimpse of Babu as the character Rudhra, a complex figure at the center of the epic action-adventure.

The stills, captured during the film's extensive Africa schedule, showcase Rudhra in two distinct settings. One image depicts him resting on a bamboo raft in a dense jungle, while the other shows him standing with a commanding presence in the vast plains of Kenya's Maasai Mara, surrounded by wildlife. The visuals hint at a globe-spanning narrative, which Rajamouli described as a journey across continents, from the spiritual heartlands of India to remote international landscapes.

Rajamouli emphasized that Rudhra is not a conventional action hero. "Rudhra was born to fulfil a purpose much larger than himself. He carries a destiny he did not ask for. He is witty, he is vulnerable, and he is fierce," the director stated. He praised Babu's ability to portray both strength and fragility, noting that "very few can play fierce and fragile in the same breath."