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

Few filmmakers command anticipation like SS Rajamouli. Every update feels like an event, every frame sparks speculation. With Varanasi, that excitement has grown into obsession. From Mahesh Babu’s powerful first look as Rudhra to the teaser’s globe-spanning, myth-heavy visuals, audiences sense a story that stretches across continents, timelines, and legends.

Recently, Rajamouli and his team opened up about the film and the effort behind the spectacle appears just as monumental as what unfolds on screen.

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Becoming Rama: A Physical Transformation

At the heart of Varanasi is Mahesh Babu, who didn’t merely prepare for the role — he rebuilt himself for it.

During a recent exclusive interview with Variety, the Pokiri star explained, “I’m playing Lord Rama’s character, it required posture… you can’t stand like modern characters."

To achieve that mythic presence, he trained for months in Kalari martial arts, reshaping his stance, gait, and body language to suit the era. He also worked with a track-and-field team to refine his running style. 

“When I saw the shot, I was really happy. It was worth it, because that six months of training for that one shot was really worth it. The way I walked changed, the way I stood changed, everything changed.” said the superstar.

For Babu, it wasn’t performance - it was embodiment. When Cinema Meets the Wild Rajamouli’s filmmaking rarely relies on controlled sets. His stories often unfold in nature’s raw unpredictability.

One of Varanasi’s toughest schedules took the cast to Africa during the wildebeest migration - no green screens, only real chaos. 

Recalling the day, Babu said, “We had these vehicles, and they would take us there, drop us and Sir [Rajamouli] was somewhere in another vehicle, because he had to go around the wildebeest."

"Then the vehicle which dropped us went away, and then we realized that we’re just standing there with the wildebeest. All of a sudden we can just hear the ground shaking, because these animals were just [running],” he added.

The shoot quickly turned into survival mode.

“He was very excited. He was like, ‘It’s very nice, very nice. Just keep moving.’ And we knew he was getting his take,” he said.

By day’s end, the team grasped the scale of what they had attempted.

“I don’t think any other actor would have done what we did. And it was quite an achievement,” Babu said.

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Rajamouli’s Dream Landscape

For Rajamouli, Africa was more than a backdrop - it was a lifelong dream realized.

“Once you land in Africa, you are not hit by it. But as you travel into the wilderness, you are not just hit, you are literally swept off your feet,” he said. 

“It’s an incredible feeling - like you really know your size in the world," said the RRR helmer.

That philosophy shapes his cinema: vast worlds that humble the characters while grounding their emotions.

The Weight of a Sacred Name

Naming the film Varanasi carries spiritual and cultural significance, and Rajamouli approached it with care.

“It is the name of an ancient [city], the first city, and which is so fondly revered by millions of people,” he said.

Further, the Baahubali helmer added, “I know it carries a weight. I know it carries a religious significance. And of course, that makes me even more responsible in how I use it.”

That responsibility stayed with him until the end.

“The moment that got me goosebumps and tears in my eyes was when the ‘Varanasi’ title was coming onto the screen. So I thought, yes, we are right in naming the film ‘Varanasi,'” he added.

More Than a Film, A Calling

For Rajamouli, Varanasi is more than another big-budget venture - it’s destiny. Long inspired by Indian epics, he now directly brings their essence to screen.

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“All my films, I take inspiration from [Indian epics] ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Mahabharata.’ But here, it’s not an inspiration. It’s actually a piece of ‘Ramayana’ that we are putting into the film,” said Rajamouli.

“I kept imagining at some point in my life I will be making these epics, but I did not expect it to happen so soon,” he added.

For Mahesh Babu, that calling means relearning how to walk, stand, and breathe - surrendering fully to the legend.