Mahesh Babu's birthday turned festive when SS Rajamouli unveiled the actor's first appearance as Rudhra from the eagerly awaited movie Varanasi. The actor's rugged appearance has already generated interest on the internet when seen in the midst of a stunning backdrop.

Mahesh Babu As Rudhra From Varanasi

Mahesh Babu as Rudhra appeared in two contrasting glimpses in the first-look photos. It gave his character a sense of mystery and adventure without giving away too much.

In one, the actor was seen relaxing on a bamboo raft amidst lush vegetation. In the second picture, he was seen standing in the middle of nowhere and scanning a huge expanse of land. Sharing the visual, Mahesh Babu captioned it, "A little more of Rudhra's world…"

Rajamouli also shared a special birthday message for Mahesh Babu while introducing Rudhra. The filmmaker wrote, "Fierce isn't his only shade…"

The first look poster left fans divided. While many hailed his larger-than-life persona, others called it similar to a commercial. A user said, "This looks like a Thumbs Up ad." Another user said, "Loving this softer side of Rudhra, Mahesh Babu never disappoints his fans."

A third user on X said, "Rudhra looks like he walked straight out of an epic adventure. That rugged look, those curls, and the calm intensity… Rajamouli is cooking something MASSIVE with #Varanasi #maheshbabu."

A fourth user wrote, "Pretty average, why release these on birthday? Drop a 30 second glimpse."

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Varanasi Cast And Plot Details

According to the alleged synopsis, a large asteroid called Shambhavi is headed toward the holy city of Varanasi in 2027, posing an existential threat to humanity. After that, Rudhra and Mandakini are sent on a global expedition to recover an ancient cosmic artefact.

They are said to go across Africa, Antarctica, and Europe on their quest, with Prithviraj Sukumaran's Kumbha acting as the antagonist.

The makers have not officially confirmed these narrative points and the alleged summary.

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Rudhra, an archaeologist and explorer hired for a risky mission to retrieve an ancient cosmic artefact, will be portrayed by Mahesh Babu. As they set out on a perilous adventure, Priyanka Chopra Jonas' Mandakini, a historian and expert marksman, joins him.

Varanasi is scheduled to hit theatres on April 7, 2027.