SS Rajamouli announces Varanasi's meteoric arrival next year, confirms release date

SS Rajamouli announces the release date of Varanasi on social media. The director is ready for the grand arrival of his epic starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Mahesh Babu.

SS Rajamouli on Friday announced the release date of his next big film, Varanasi. The director shared the news on social media. Varanasi, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Mahesh Babu has been locked for release on April 7, 2027, as the big Ram Navami film next year. "April 7th, 2027 #VARANASI (sic)," he wrote in the caption of his post on X while announcing the release date of the film.

Earlier, various reports suggested that the film is likely to release in theatres on April 9, 2027, coinciding with Ram Navami. However, Rajamouli's announcement clarifies that the film will hit the screens on April 7, Wednesday, as the big Ugadi release next year.

April 7th, 2027 #VARANASI. pic.twitter.com/9i5j1TZg5b— rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) January 30, 2026

During the film's title glimpse event in November 2025, SS Rajamouli explained that he has filmed an important Ramayana episode in Varanasi, which is set in Kasi.

Explaining his love for the Hindu epics, Rajamouli said that they shot the Ramayana episode for 60 days and that Mahesh Babu will appear as Lord Ram. Speaking at the event, he said, "Since my childhood, I've spoken many times about what the Ramayana and Mahabharata mean to me, and how making them is my dream project. I never imagined I would get to shoot an important episode of the Ramayana this early. While writing every scene and every dialogue, I felt like I was floating."

"On the first day, when Mahesh came into Lord Rama's get-up for the photoshoot, I got goosebumps. I was torn. Mahesh has the charm of Krishna, but the calmness of Rama. Still, I was confident. I even set that photo as my wallpaper and then removed it," he said.