Hyderabad, India – S.S. Rajamouli, the acclaimed director of "Baahubali" and "RRR," addressed fans at the GlobeTrotter event in Hyderabad on November 15, 2025, expressing his gratitude for their patience despite technical difficulties that plagued the unveiling of the first glimpse of his upcoming film, "Varanasi". The event, held at Ramoji Film City, drew an estimated crowd of 50,000 eager fans.
The highly anticipated event, which revealed the first look of "Varanasi" starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, faced unexpected hurdles. Technical glitches caused delays and interruptions during the teaser presentation, testing the patience of the assembled fans.
Rajamouli took to the stage to apologize for the issues, explaining that the team had encountered unforeseen problems. He revealed that a drone had been used to leak footage of the teaser before the event, preventing the team from conducting a final test run on the giant screen. "Yesterday night we did not test the glimpse on this screen because a drone was flying here trying to leak our one-year-long hard work," Rajamouli stated. He elaborated on the scale of the operation, noting that powering the screen required 45 generators and that the crew had worked until 2 AM to prepare the video. "We don't know where people came from. They started flying drones and shooting the footage, leaking it. That is a year of hard work of many people, thousands of manpower and crores of rupees," he lamented.
Despite the setbacks, Rajamouli expressed his appreciation for the fans' unwavering support. On X, he wrote, "My sincere thanks to all the Mahesh fans who travelled such long distances for the #Varanasi Globetrotter event and walked close to 3km in the cold… and still, even with the glitches on our side, your patience never wavered… I have to say this, you're as disciplined as your idol… And a big thank you to every Telugu Cinema audience who stood by us on ground…".
The teaser of "Varanasi," despite being leaked online prior to its official release, offered a glimpse into Rajamouli's ambitious project. The video depicts an asteroid colliding with Earth, with fragments landing in various locations, including Varanasi, Antarctica, and Africa. Mahesh Babu's character, Rudhra, is introduced riding a bull and wielding a blood-stained trident, set against a backdrop of temples and cosmic devastation. The film appears to span multiple eras and incorporates themes from the Ramayana. The first looks of Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha and Priyanka Chopra as Mandakini were also revealed.
"Varanasi" is slated for a theatrical release in 2027 and is being touted as Rajamouli's most ambitious project to date, blending mythology with modern storytelling.
The event also sparked controversy after alleged remarks made by Rajamouli regarding the Hindu deity Hanuman. Social media users criticized the director, with some accusing him of insulting religious beliefs. According to social media posts, Rajamouli allegedly stated that he is not a big believer in God and questioned Hanuman's protection, drawing criticism for these remarks made at the launch of a film rooted in Hindu mythology. These claims, however, have not been independently verified.
