Varanasi movie title teaser breakdown: Reincarnation and time-travel? SS Rajamouli plants visual cues and easter eggs in this Mahesh Babu’s epic globetrotting film

The highly anticipated collaboration between director SS Rajamouli and actor Mahesh Babu has officially launched with the title teaser for their film Varanasi

Varanasi teaser breakdown

Varanasi it is! Ever since the news that director SS Rajamouli and actor Mahesh Babu will be collaborating had surfaced, fans were pining for updates about the project. Fulfilling their wait, the makers had launched the film in a grand manner on Saturday. The makers had released the title teaser of the film, Varanasi, and the visuals are no less stunning. Packed with details and more, here is the breakdown.

Varanasi movie title teaser breakdown:

Varanasi is the title of the Mahesh Babu and Rajamouli film. The new project in town, which will see the first collaboration of the two superstars, is easily one of the most anticipated Telugu films in the coming years. Varanasi’s title teaser was released on Saturday, and with the visuals being no less than stunning, it also packs in much details that fans can decode. Here is our version of the decoding.

To begin with, the title teaser gives the time stamp of 512 CE's Vaaranaasi, a city that is considered holy by the Hindus, where the Ganges thrives and pilgrims galore. The teaser is completely built on VFX imagery, and a sage is shown performing a ritual. Before we absorb what's happening, the scene shifts to 2027 CE when asteroid Shambhavi, a massive ball of fire, is travelling towards Earth. Indeed, staying true to the globetrotter word, the next destination is Ross Ice Shelf, the largest glacier of Antarctica. The vertical glacier gives us a peek into the underwater. Just as we try to spot a shipwreck, as a stark contrast, Rajamouli then shifts us to the wilderness of Africa's Amboseli. The place is known for its thriving fauna and view of Mt Kilimanjaro. The teaser is further loaded with animal visuals, that of hippos and a cat jumping to save itself from the herd, perhaps referring to villains?

Also Read: Varanasi: M M Keeravani announces release date of Rajamouli-Mahesh Babu film

Then the scene shifts to Vanaanchal's Ugrabhatti Cave, where some demon-like men are performing rituals to a headless Kali. Shuttling between time zones and global destinations, the 722 BCE of Lanka Nagaram takes us to witness the Trethayuga. A massive Hanuman-like figure is shown, while a small character with that of bow and arrow (Lord Ram?). The titular place, Vaaranaasi, is back in focus, with the Manikarnia Ghat being struck by a lightning and water from the Ganges being absorbed. It is at this point that we see Mahesh Babu's Rudhra riding an ox with a trident in his hold, with Varanasi as his backdrop.

The teaser, even though does not let us get to the plot directly, has enough to say that the story is completely related to Ramayana and how multiple timelines are narrated. Is it reincarnation or we are going to see some time-travelling? Rajamouli has also said that Mahesh Babu will play Ram, but what about Sita and Raavan, when Prithviraj plays antagonist Kumbha (referring to Raavan’s younger brother Kumbhakarna), and Priyanka Chopra as Mandakini, the other name of the Ganges river.

Varanasi: What do we know so far?

Varanasi will star actors Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Prithviraj Sukumaran and others with MM Keeravani's music. More details on the project are yet to be revealed. However, given the high VFX and visual richness, the film is expected to pack a mythical story that will borrow elements from the Hindu epic Ramayana. Varanasi will also have elements of time-travelling as revealed in the teaser. It will hit theatres for summer 2027.

FAQs

Q. When will the first look of Mahesh Babu-Rajamouli be out?

A. The first look of the Mahesh Babu-Rajamouli film was out on November 15, 2025

Q. Who is playing the female lead in Mahesh Babu's next?

A. Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays the female lead in Mahesh Babu's next, tentatively titled Globetrotter.

Q. When will Vilayath Buddha release?

A. Prithviraj Sukumaran's Vilayath Buddha will release on November 21.

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