The chatter has finally been put to rest by Mahesh Babu himself: he’s going to play Lord Rama in SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi. But this is no blockbuster, bombastic retelling of the Ramayana. Rajamouli is headed in a much quieter, more intimate direction—the father-son relationship.
Babu has confirmed that his role will include the Rama storyline in a crucial Ramayana-inspired sequence in Varanasi. The rumor mill has long suggested mythological origins, and this is the strongest indication yet of how deeply the Ramayana saga will run through the film.
The interesting thing about this announcement is the perspective Rajamouli is taking. Rather than retelling the same old myth, he’s focusing on King Dasharatha and Lord Rama, exploring the concepts of duty, sacrifice, and control. He’s described it as a human story—one that explores how a son walks the tightrope between loyalty, love, and destiny, even when it means sacrificing his own interests.
Mahesh Babu has suggested that playing Lord Rama required a complete mindset change. This is no action-packed, macho hero role; it’s about subtle power, calculated gesture, and inner strength. He’s worked on his body language and movements to capture the calm, collected demeanor of Rama, without resorting to anything too showy or contemporary.
For fans, the prospect of Mahesh Babu as Rama has long been a fanboy’s wet dream. This announcement only serves to heighten expectations. The larger picture is that Varanasi is not going to cast Rama as a mythological superhero but as a son first and foremost, a prince burdened by duty, a man torn apart by his father’s decisions.
With Rajamouli at the helm, this Ramayana sequence is not going to be just a visual treat. It’s going to be one of the most grounded, emotionally resonant sequences in the film—something that will stick in the viewer’s memory long after the credits roll.
As the shape of Varanasi emerges, one thing is certain: Mahesh Babu as Lord Rama, under the thoughtful direction of SS Rajamouli, is going to be no ordinary experience.
