Hyderabad, India – In a surprising revelation at the title launch of the highly anticipated film Varanasi, director S.S. Rajamouli praised actor Mahesh Babu's unparalleled dedication to his craft. Rajamouli disclosed that the Telugu superstar maintains an extraordinary level of focus on set, working for eight consecutive hours without once checking his phone.
The event, held at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, saw Rajamouli express his admiration for Babu's work ethic, stating it was a quality everyone could learn from. "[W]hen Mahesh Babu comes to office or shooting, he will not touch his cell phone," Rajamouli said. "He will work for eight hours and only when he goes back he looks at his cell phone". He lauded the actor's ability to remain fully present and focused, a trait increasingly rare in today's hyper-connected world.
The Varanasi launch also unveiled the film's teaser and revealed Babu's character name as Rudhra. The film, which also stars Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran, is slated for a summer 2027 release. However, the event wasn't without its share of hiccups, as Rajamouli expressed disappointment over the teaser being leaked online prior to the official launch. He lamented that "one year of our hard work, thousands of hours by hundreds of people, and crores of rupees all leaked because of one drone flying randomly". Despite the setback, the director remains optimistic about the film, which is expected to be his most ambitious project to date. The narrative spans centuries, beginning in an ancient kingdom in 512 CE and culminating in 2071 with the city under attack from meteors.
In other news, Tanishk Bagchi, the composer behind chart-topping hits like "Saiyaara" and "Raataan Lambiyan," has announced a break from social media. Bagchi shared a detailed note on Instagram, stating that he is stepping away from all social media platforms to focus on himself and his well-being. He clarified that his Instagram account will now be managed exclusively by his agency for all work-related communication.
“Hi all my fans and followers, I wanted to share something important with you. I’m taking a step back from Instagram and going completely off social media for a while,” Bagchi wrote. He also expressed gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support over the years. “Thank you for loving my music, for standing by me, and for giving me strength every day. Your support means everything to me,” he said.
Bagchi's decision to take a digital detox comes at a time when many artists are increasingly vocal about the importance of mental well-being and disconnecting from the pressures of online platforms. In the past, Bagchi has spoken about dealing with online trolls and how he manages negative comments. He noted that while some trolls are simply looking for attention or are driven by jealousy, others may be ভালো at heart but lack an outlet for their stress. His move to step away from social media signals a growing trend among celebrities prioritizing their mental health in the face of constant online scrutiny.
