Live: Telangana Jagruthi President Kalvakuntla Kavitha Press Meet

The team behind Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu’s much-anticipated film Varanasi recently interacted with a Hollywood media outlet, offering rare insights into the ambitious project. During the interview, Mahesh Babu spoke candidly about his role and shared select experiences from the shoot.

The superstar revealed that he is portraying Lord Rama in the film, apart from playing the main protagonist, Rudra. Speaking about embodying the mythological character, Mahesh Babu explained that the role demanded a very specific physical posture and body language. He noted that one cannot stand or move like a modern character while playing Lord Rama, which pushed him to relearn even the basics of movement.

He shared that he trained extensively to perfect a distinct running style and felt immense satisfaction when months of preparation translated effectively on screen. Watching the final shot brought him genuine happiness, as every bit of effort finally felt justified. Spending nearly six months training for what appeared as a brief moment on screen, he said, was completely worth it.

The experience, according to Mahesh Babu, transformed him physically as well. From the way he walked to how he stood and carried himself, the role left a lasting impact on his overall presence.

Recalling the first day of filming, Mahesh Babu described it as almost surreal. The actors were transported to the location in vehicles, while director Rajamouli had to take a different route due to wildlife movement in the area. After being dropped off, the vehicle drove away, and only then did they realize they were standing alone amid the animals. Moments later, they could feel the ground trembling beneath them.

Rajamouli directed the scene from a distance using a walkie-talkie and was visibly thrilled, repeatedly assuring them that everything looked perfect and urging them to keep moving. Hearing his excitement, the actors knew he was getting exactly the shot he envisioned.

Once the day’s shoot wrapped up, the team reflected on how rare and intense the experience had been. Mahesh Babu felt that very few actors would have taken on such a challenge, and completing it gave him a deep sense of achievement, making the journey all the more memorable.