A Filmmaker at His Most Ambitious
S.S. Rajamouli, the visionary director known for his sweeping epics like Baahubali and RRR, has once again raised the bar. His next film, Varanasi, is being billed as an ambitious mythological time-travel adventure — and with an IMAX release planned, the scale is larger than many Bollywood films to date. The newly announced cast, storyline, and production setup suggest that Rajamouli is not just telling a story, he’s creating a cinematic universe.
In early 2025, Rajamouli revealed that Varanasi will weave together elements of ancient Hindu mythology, historical temples, and futuristic time-travel. This fusion is rare in Indian cinema, and if successful, could redefine what myth-based films can be — not just as period pieces or fantasy, but as thought experiments wrapped in blockbuster spectacle.
The Vision Behind Varanasi
Rajamouli’s fascination with Indian mythology is well known. His previous works, particularly Baahubali, tapped into mythic grandeur with kingdom-scale battles and legendary heroes. But Varanasi is different — rather than simply drawing from myth, he seems to be exploring how myth and time can intersect.
- Time-Travel Meets Devotion: Early reports suggest that the protagonists might travel across different eras — from ancient Varanasi (Kashi) to future timelines. By combining a time-travel narrative with mythological characters, Rajamouli aims to ask big questions: What happens when divine stories collide with human history? How does faith survive across centuries?
- Mythology Reimagined: The film will not just depict gods and demons in the traditional way. Word is that there will be new narrative layers, possibly reinterpreting mythic figures in a sci-fi context. This approach could offer fresh perspectives for audiences familiar with Hindu mythology while making the story accessible to global viewers.
- Religious & Cultural Context: Varanasi (Kashi) is not just any city — it’s considered one of the holiest in Hinduism. Setting a time-travel story here brings deep spiritual weight. Rajamouli’s choice of location isn’t accidental: it’s as much a character in the film as any human or divine figure.
Cast & Key Players
Rajamouli has assembled a stellar cast for Varanasi, combining established stars with fresh faces to bring this cosmic story to life:
- Mahesh Babu: The Telugu superstar is set to play a pivotal role. Known for his screen presence and action chops, Babu’s inclusion signals that Varanasi will have strong heroic arcs.
- Priyanka Chopra Jonas: Her global appeal and acting range make her a perfect fit for a mythological-fantasy epic. It’s rumored she will play a character who bridges the divine and human realms — perhaps someone who understands both worlds.
- Prithviraj Sukumaran: The South Indian actor is a mainstay in Rajamouli’s ambitious plans. In Varanasi, he is expected to portray a complex character, possibly divine or mythic, with significant emotional depth.
Beyond the main cast, whispers in the industry suggest Rajamouli is bringing in international talent for VFX and production design — pushing Varanasi more toward a global cinematic event than just a regional blockbuster.
Why IMAX? And Why Now?
The decision to release Varanasi in IMAX is strategic and bold:
- Immersive Scale: Given the mythological and time-travel elements, IMAX provides the immersive canvas needed for grand visuals — sacred temples, cosmic phenomena, and epic battles all demand scale.
- Box Office Potential: IMAX tickets are priced higher, and audiences paying for that experience expect spectacle. Rajamouli’s previous films have proven that his audience is willing to pay for grandeur.
- Global Strategy: With IMAX, Varanasi is likely being positioned for theatrical releases beyond India — especially in markets where large-format cinemas are still a marquee draw.
January 2026 is being floated in some trade circles as a tentative release window, allowing for post-production VFX work as well as a global rollout.
Production & Technical Ambition
Rajamouli’s team is reportedly leaving no stone unturned in terms of production:
- VFX & CGI: High-quality visual effects are absolutely central. Since the story involves time travel and mythic beings, significant portions of the film will be CGI-driven. Rajamouli has previously leveraged VFX excellently, but Varanasi is being described as an “all-in” VFX adventure.
- Art Direction: The art team is expected to recreate ancient Varanasi with historical accuracy — temples, ghats, and old city architecture — while also imagining futuristic versions of the same city.
- Music & Score: Music in Rajamouli’s films has always been a powerful storytelling tool. For Varanasi, the composer is said to be blending traditional Indian motifs (classical instruments, temple chants) with orchestral and electronic soundtracks — reflecting the film’s time-travel narrative.
Potential Risks & Challenges
Despite its promise, Varanasi carries several major risks:
- Narrative Complexity: Time-travel stories are notoriously tricky. Add mythology into the mix, and the risk of a convoluted plot rises significantly. If not handled well, the film could alienate viewers who find the mythology confusing or the time-travel elements overwrought.
- Budget Overruns: Grand scale + IMAX + VFX-heavy production = very high costs. The producers will need to ensure box office receipts (domestic and international) justify this investment.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Mythological stories are deeply embedded in religious traditions. Reimagining divine or sacred figures can spark criticism. Rajamouli will need to navigate theological and cultural sensitivities carefully.
- Competition: Globally, fantasy epics are seeing a resurgence, and Varanasi may compete not just with Bollywood films, but international fantasy franchises.
Industry & Audience Implications
If Varanasi delivers, it could be a game-changer for several reasons:
- Mythological Epics Reborn: The success of this film may spark a new wave of myth-based, high-concept Indian films — moving beyond historical biopics or simple religious narrations.
- Format Shift: A strong IMAX performance could encourage more Indian filmmakers to consider large-format releases.
- Global Market Reach: Rajamouli’s name already carries weight internationally; with Varanasi, he could deepen his presence in global box offices and streaming platforms.
- Technological Growth: The production’s technical demands (VFX, production design) could push growth in India’s VFX/animation industry, generating more high-skilled jobs and expertise.
Conclusion: A High-Stakes, High-Potential Bet
With Varanasi, S.S. Rajamouli is not merely making another movie — he’s rolling the dice on a grand, genre-defying cinematic experiment. By combining mythology with time travel and leveraging IMAX’s visual power, he could usher in a new era for Indian epic cinema.
If Varanasi succeeds, it may redefine how Bollywood thinks about scale, narrative, and global ambition. If it fails, it’ll be a cautionary tale about the thin line between visionary storytelling and overreach. Either way, it’s one of the most anticipated and potentially influential films set to shape Indian (and possibly global) cinema in the coming years.
