Mahesh Babu’s Varanasi: 5 Major Highlights from the Globetrotter Event

The Globetrotter event at Ramoji Film City turned into one of the biggest cinematic showcases of the year, giving fans their first official look into Varanasi, SS Rajamouli’s colossal project with Mahesh Babu. Packed with surprises, emotional moments and massive reveals, the event lived up to its hype despite a few technical hiccups. Here are the five biggest takeaways.

The first and most defining moment was the official title reveal. After months of speculation around “Globetrotter,” the team finally announced that the film is titled Varanasi, reflecting the spiritual and mythic roots of the story Rajamouli is crafting. This immediately set the tone for what followed.

The second highlight was Mahesh Babu’s first look as Rudra, which exploded online within minutes. The actor was seen riding a bull, holding a trishool, with blood streaked across his face - a raw, ferocious avatar unlike anything seen in his career. Fans inside the venue erupted, calling it one of the most powerful looks of the decade.

Another major moment came with the reveal of Priyanka Chopra’s character, Mandakini, marking her grand return to Indian cinema. Her appearance in a mythic, regal setting drew huge applause and added even more star power to the project.

Rajamouli also offered the biggest creative tease of the evening by confirming that Varanasi blends time-travel with mythology, hinting at a narrative that spans eras, dimensions and cultural symbolism. This aligns with fan theories linking the film to the concept of “Timetrotter,” a term that flashed during the event.

Finally, the event itself stood out for its unmatched scale, from its enormous LED displays to the electric crowd response. Despite an initial technical delay, the team delivered a cinematic showcase that reflected the ambition of the film.

With these reveals, Varanasi has officially positioned itself as one of the most anticipated Indian films ever made.