Rajamouli is regarded as the biggest commercial filmmaker in Indian cinema. He has a reputation for transforming the careers of the heroes he works with. His projects are known for scale, discipline, and long-term commitment.
The latest discussion surrounds his film with Mahesh Babu, titled Varanasi. There are several factors that make this collaboration different from Rajamouli’s previous projects with other top stars.
One major point is Mahesh Babu’s freedom to travel. Despite ongoing shooting, he has been taking vacations with ease. This is unusual for a Rajamouli film, where long continuous schedules are normally followed.
In the past, Prabhas, NTR, and Ram Charan mentioned that Rajamouli denied even short breaks during Baahubali and RRR. They said foreign trips and family holidays were not permitted until filming was fully complete.
However, Mahesh Babu seems to be an exception. He even flew out of Hyderabad for a holiday recently and plans to celebrate the New Year abroad. This flexibility has become a talking point in the industry.
There are also reports that Rajamouli plans to complete Mahesh’s portions by mid 2026. If true, Mahesh would finish the project in just over a year, which is significantly shorter than Rajamouli’s usual timeline.
Prabhas, Charan, and NTR were committed to their Rajamouli films for two to three years. In comparison, Mahesh’s involvement may be almost half that duration. This contrast is surprising fans and observers.
With travel freedom, shorter shoot commitment, and massive scale, Mahesh Babu seems to be receiving advantages that earlier actors did not. At the same time, he is part of the biggest film currently in production in Indian cinema.
Varanasi is already creating massive buzz. Whether this approach becomes Rajamouli’s new working style or a unique case for Mahesh Babu remains to be seen.
