9 PM | ETV Telugu News | 27th January 2023

SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu’s ambitious film Vaaranasi is already generating massive curiosity, and the hype has only doubled with the latest surprise surrounding the project. It is known that Mahesh will appear in a Lord Rama avatar in one of the film’s key sequences — something the makers themselves hinted at earlier. Rajamouli even revealed that he kept Mahesh’s Rama look as his mobile wallpaper for days, proving how special that getup is for the team.

But just as discussions about Mahesh’s Rama avatar were peaking, fans were stunned by a completely unexpected visual. During the re-release of Mahesh Babu’s Businessman, a special showreel celebrating his career was screened before the film. While the montage itself impressed the audience, it was the final clip from Vaaranasi that left theatres erupting.

The title glimpse featured a striking sequence where Lord Shiva is shown riding Nandi — followed immediately by Mahesh Babu replacing Shiva, holding a trident (trishul), and charging forward on Nandi in a powerful, goosebumps-inducing moment. This unexpected Shiva avatar sent fans into a frenzy.

The big question now is whether Mahesh will actually appear as Lord Shiva in Vaaranasi, or if this was a special graphic created exclusively for the showreel to enhance fan excitement. With Rajamouli being known for his secrecy and cinematic surprises, the mystery has only deepened.

Until the makers officially clarify, fans are happily celebrating both the Rama and Shiva glimpses — and the anticipation for Vaaranasi has skyrocketed yet again.