He gave his 200%: SS Rajamouli on Mahesh Babu's performance as Rudra in Varanasi

Director SS Rajamouli has praised Mahesh Babu for exceeding his expectations with his performance as Rudhra in Varanasi, marking their first collaboration. The action-adventure film, which also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran, is scheduled to release in theatres on April 7, 2027.According to Pinkvilla, while speaking at a university in the United States, Rajamouli said Mahesh brought far more to the character than he had initially anticipated. The filmmaker also spoke about his dissatisfaction with how Indian cinema has portrayed mythology and epic stories, expressing hope that Varanasi will bring such narratives to the screen on a grand scale.“With Mahesh Babu in Varanasi, I expected him to give 100 percent, because that’s what I know he is capable of. But once I started working with him, he completely exceeded my expectations. He went beyond everything I had imagined and gave 200 percent. 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,” the filmmaker said. During a conversation on the Empire Film Podcast, Rajamouli also reflected on the portrayal of mythology and epic stories in Indian cinema. “I was never fully satisfied with how these epics were presented on screen,” said the RRR director, hinting at his ambition to approach the genre differently with Varanasi.The film is set against the backdrop of a global crisis in which a massive asteroid named Shambhavi threatens the city of Varanasi. Rudhra, a rugged archaeologist and explorer, is recruited for a high-stakes mission to recover an ancient cosmic artefact. He is joined by Mandakini, a fearless historian and skilled marksman, as their journey takes them through the jungles of Africa, the icy landscapes of Antarctica and several locations across Europe. The duo must evade Kumbha, a technologically advanced antagonist, while uncovering secrets linked to Varanasi's mythical past that could hold the key to preventing a future catastrophe. Varanasi features Mahesh Babu in the lead, with Priyanka Chopra Jonas playing the female lead and Prithviraj Sukumaran in a pivotal role. The ambitious production involves extensive visual effects and multiple shooting schedules. Mahesh has reportedly completed filming his portions.The makers recently shared behind-the-scenes pictures from the sets featuring Prithviraj Sukumaran to mark the actor's 44th birthday.With Varanasi, Rajamouli reunites with the kind of large-scale storytelling that has defined films such as Baahubali and RRR. His latest comments suggest that the director hopes to bring a fresh perspective to Indian mythology and epic narratives when the film arrives in theatres on April 7, 2027.- EndsMUST WATCH: