Mahesh Babu Takes Family Vacation Amid SS Rajamouli's Varanasi Shoot, Return Set on July 1

Even the most demanding productions must pause for family. Superstar Mahesh Babu , who has been immersed in an intense shoot for SS Rajamouli's most ambitious project yet, has taken a brief break from the schedule to spend quality time with his family. The actor, accompanied by wife Namrata Shirodkar and children Gowtam and Sitara , was spotted at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad as the family departed for a short vacation, with videos of their airport appearance quickly going viral on social media. Their destination remains undisclosed. Mahesh Babu is expected to return to the Varanasi shoot by July 1, 2026 , and is also likely to attend the Rao Bahadur event on July 2, 2026 .

The timing underscores the sheer scale of the production the superstar is stepping away from. Varanasi is being made on a projected budget of Rs 1,400 crore, which would make it the most expensive Indian film ever produced. It is also the first Indian film and the first non-English language film to be shot in the 1.43:1 IMAX format . The film's story spans thousands of years and multiple continents, from Antarctica to Africa to the holy city of Varanasi itself, described by the makers as being "in the vein of Indiana Jones and James Bond."

Mahesh Babu plays the protagonist Rudhra and also appears as Lord Rama in a Ramayana episode within the film. Priyanka Chopra Jonas portrays the femme fatale Mandakini , marking her return to Indian cinema, while Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the vicious supervillain Kumbha . Music is composed by MM Keeravani , the Oscar-winning composer of Naatu Naatu , with PS Vinod as director of photography, Bikkina Thammiraju on editing, and V Srinivas Mohan handling visual effects.

Varanasi is scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027 , timed to coincide with Ugadi and Gudi Padwa festivities.