SS Rajamouli Completes 25 Years in Cinema: From Student No. 1 to Varanasi

Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli has completed 25 years in the Indian film industry, marking a journey that began with Student No. 1 in 2001 and went on to include some of the biggest Telugu and Indian films of the past two decades.

September 27, 2026, marked 25 years since Student No. 1, starring Jr NTR, was released. The film marked Rajamouli’s directorial debut and also became the beginning of a long-running creative association with composer M.M. Keeravani. The film was released on September 27, 2001, with a reported production budget of around ₹1.8 crore and went on to earn about ₹22 crore at the box office, according to a retrospective by The Indian Express.

Rajamouli’s journey to the big screen began before Student No. 1. He worked in television and directed serials including Shanti Nivasam before making his feature-film debut. His early films, including Simhadri and Chatrapathi, established his style of large-scale commercial storytelling, while Magadheera further expanded the scale and technical ambition of Telugu cinema.

He followed those films with Maryada Ramanna, Eega and other successful projects before making the two-part Baahubali franchise. Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion helped take Telugu cinema to a much wider international audience and became a major turning point in Rajamouli’s career.

Rajamouli then directed RRR, starring Jr NTR and Ram Charan. The film expanded his international profile further, with its song “Naatu Naatu” winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 95th Oscars in 2023.

His contribution to Indian cinema has also been recognised nationally. Rajamouli was awarded the Padma Shri in 2016 for his contribution to the field of art.

As he completes 25 years, tributes have been shared by fans and members of the film industry. Arka Mediaworks, which was associated with the Baahubali films, described Rajamouli as a “torchbearer” and referred to him as the “Baahubali of filmmaking” in a social media tribute marking the milestone.

Rajamouli’s next major project is Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas appears as Mandakini, while Prithviraj plays Kumbha, the antagonist. Reports also state that Mahesh Babu portrays Lord Rama in one episode.

The film is being mounted as a large-scale action-adventure with a time-travel element. According to Rajamouli, the story travels from Varanasi to Antarctica, then Africa and Ancient Rome before returning to Varanasi. The director has also said that major action portions have already been completed, with the remaining portions being filmed in Hyderabad.

Varanasi is planned as a single-part film with a reported runtime of around three hours. The project has a reported budget of about ₹1,300 crore and is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027. It is also being shot in the IMAX format, reflecting the scale of Rajamouli’s latest project.

From a modestly budgeted college drama in 2001 to globally recognised productions such as Baahubali and RRR, Rajamouli’s 25-year journey has been marked by an expanding scale of storytelling. With Varanasi now nearing completion, the filmmaker is preparing for another ambitious chapter in his career.