Mahesh Babu’s nervous first meeting with SS Rajamouli sparked the journey of Varanasi! Know how

Blockbusters are usually associated with fireworks, fanfare, and flashing cameras. But for Mahesh Babu, the turning point arrived in silence. No spotlights. No applause. Just a chair across from SS Rajamouli and a story waiting to be told. Inside the director’s office, a simple narration unfolded - and with it, the blueprint of something colossal.

Related Story: SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi: Master storyteller and Mahesh Babu reveal the epic’s untold journey for the first time

What seemed like a routine meeting soon became the moment that reshaped Mahesh’s cinematic journey. Listening to Varanasi for the first time, he found himself balancing awe with anxiety. Never before had he stepped into a film mounted on such staggering scale. 

When ‘Varanasi’ Felt Bigger Than Fear

In a post shared by the film’s official X page, Mahesh Babu opened up about that first encounter with Rajamouli’s vision. He admitted the narration “blew his mind.”

The magnitude thrilled him - yet it also intimidated him. The fear wasn’t about performance; it was about scale. After heading home, he confessed to his wife just how massive the film felt - and how that enormity unsettled him. But alongside the nervousness grew admiration.

On #Varanasi….@DiscussingFilmpic.twitter.com/bURVSv90T6

— Varanasi (@VaranasiMovie) February 6, 2026

Rajamouli’s storytelling command left him spellbound. What began as hesitation slowly transformed. The more Mahesh understood the director’s clarity and craft, the more the doubts dissolved. Fear made way for faith.

Today, that initial nervousness has evolved into complete trust, and the actor now approaches the project with calm confidence and genuine excitement. 

A Myth, A Disaster, A Superhero: The Scale of the Epic

Meanwhile, Rajamouli has teased the grand ambition behind Varanasi. Nearly 25 minutes of the film reportedly unfold in a mythological timeline, weaving ancient lore into a modern spectacle. Priyanka Chopra plays a significant role, adding further star power to the narrative. The film is slated for release on April 7, 2027.

At the November 2025 title look event, Rajamouli revealed that substantial portions inspired by the Ramayana were shot in the spiritual heart of Varanasi. The one-line premise on Letterboxd promises high-stakes drama - an asteroid hurtling toward the sacred city, impending apocalypse, and a globe-trotting superhero racing against time to save humanity.

Must Read: SS Rajamouli confirms ‘Ramayana’ roots for Varanasi, 'All my films are inspired by Rama'

More Than a Film, A Personal Evolution

What began as a tense first meeting has grown into one of Indian cinema’s most anticipated collaborations. For Mahesh Babu, Varanasi isn’t just another project on the slate.

It’s a transformation.

The story that once scared him is now the one he believes in the most - a leap of faith powered by trust, vision, and a filmmaker known for turning dreams into epics.