Priyanka Chopra's first look as Mandakini in SS Rajamouli's upcoming film, tentatively titled "GlobeTrotter" (also known as "SSMB 29"), has ignited a frenzy online, accumulating over 115 million impressions within 24 hours. The poster, unveiled on November 12, 2025, marks Chopra's return to Indian cinema after a six-year hiatus and has become a trending topic across social media platforms.
Rajamouli himself shared the striking poster on social media, welcoming Chopra back to Indian cinema. His post read, "The woman who redefined Indian Cinema on the global stage. Welcome back, Desi Girl! @priyankachopra. Can't wait for the world to witness your myriad shades of MANDAKINI. #GlobeTrotter". Chopra also shared the poster, teasing her character with the caption, "She's more than what meets the eye… say hello to Mandakini. #GlobeTrotter". Mahesh Babu, who also stars in the film, joined in the excitement, posting, "And now she arrives…Meet MANDAKINI @priyankachopra".
The poster depicts Chopra in a bright yellow saree, standing on the edge of a cliff while firing a gun, a combination of traditional attire and action that has instantly grabbed attention. Fans have reacted with enthusiasm, with many calling the poster "pure fire" and praising the "epic redefinition of desi power".
The social media statistics surrounding the poster's release are staggering. On X (formerly Twitter), the poster has garnered over 11 million views, 256,000+ likes, 46,000+ retweets, and 10,000+ comments in a single day. The hashtags #Mandakini, #PriyankaChopraIsBack, and #GlobeTrotter have also been trending, with #Mandakini crossing 220,000 tweets. On Instagram, the poster has surpassed 3 million likes, 35,000 comments, 14,000 reposts, and 178,000+ shares across major profiles.
Celebrities have also chimed in with their appreciation for Chopra's look. Her husband, Nick Jonas, commented "Incredible!", while Ranveer Singh found his co-star's appearance "very cool".
While the poster has been largely well-received, some social media users have expressed reservations, with a few suggesting that Rajamouli's work is becoming "mediocre," referencing the first character poster of Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha. However, others have countered that the poster's context will become clearer upon the film's release, drawing comparisons to the initial reactions to the movie "LSC".
A grand event was held at Hyderabad's Ramoji Film City on November 15, 2025, for "GlobeTrotter," where the film's title was revealed as "Varanasi". The event, attended by nearly 50,000 people and live-streamed on JioHotstar, was hosted by YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani and Telugu presenter Suma Kanakala. Mahesh Babu made a dramatic entry on a massive bull, and a teaser was showcased on a large screen, further building anticipation for the film.
