...
...
Next Story

SS Rajamouli says he had goosebumps seeing Mahesh Babu as Lord Rama during Varanasi: 'I set that photo as my wallpaper'

Director SS Rajamouli discussed the challenges faced during filming a particular portion in Varanasi that features Mahesh Babu as Lord Rama.

Published on: Nov 16, 2025, 13:20:21 IST
Advertisement

The much-awaited teaser of SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu's SSMB 29, now officially titled Varanasi, was finally unveiled at a grand event on November 15 in Hyderabad. During the event, Rajamouli confirmed that Mahesh would be seen as Lord Rama in the film. He also revealed that he got goosebumps seeing him in the look and immediately set that photo as his mobile wallpaper.

SS Rajamouli on getting goosebumps after seeing Mahesh Babu as Lord Rama

SS Rajamouli opens up about seeing Mahesh Babu as Lord Rama.
SS Rajamouli opens up about seeing Mahesh Babu as Lord Rama.

Rajamouli said, “Since my childhood, I’ve spoken many times about what the Ramayana and Mahabharata mean to me, and how making them is my dream project. I never imagined I would get to shoot an important episode from the Ramayana this early. While writing every scene and every dialogue, I felt like I was floating. On the first day, when Mahesh came in Lord Rama’s get-up for the photoshoot, I had goosebumps. I was torn. Mahesh has the charm of Krishna, but the calmness of Rama. Still, I was confident. I even set that photo as my wallpaper and then removed it so that no one would see it.”

This is the first time Mahesh will be playing a mythological character. During the event, the actor revealed that his late father, superstar Krishna, always wanted him to act in a mythological film but he never agreed. With Varanasi, he is finally fulfilling that wish.

About Varanasi

The teaser hints at the film’s connection to the Ramayana, and many fans are speculating that it involves time travel. Directed by SS Rajamouli, the film stars Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra as Mandakini, and Prithviraj Sukumaran as the antagonist, Kumbha. The film is currently in production and is scheduled for a Sankranti 2027 theatrical release.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Riya Sharma

Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.

Amazon Summer Sale is here! Splurge and save now! Click Here!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
Amazon Summer Sale is here! Splurge and save now! Click Here!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe