SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi is one of the most ambitious projects in Indian cinema, with Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran playing key roles. The film is scheduled for an April 7, 2027, theatrical release, coinciding with Ugadi. However, the latest industry buzz suggests that the film may find it difficult to arrive on the planned date.
According to Tollywood insider chatter, a delay is possible, although there has been no official confirmation from the makers. If Varanasi moves away from its scheduled date, Prabhas’ Fauzi is reportedly being considered for that slot. For now, this remains speculation. Fauzi has been postponed from its original release date of December 3, 2026. It is expected to arrive in March now, but if Varanasi is postponed, it can target April 7.
Meanwhile, Varanasi’s international promotional strategy has also become a talking point. The team is looking to position the film as a global cinematic event, with promotional activities extending to markets such as Brazil, France, Mexico and the United States.
Rajamouli has already demonstrated his ability to take Indian cinema to international audiences with films like Baahubali and RRR, and Varanasi is being mounted on a massive scale. But an important question remains: is the film generating enough excitement globally?
Despite the international push, some observers feel the promotional campaign has not yet created the level of buzz the makers expected. RRR broke out after its Netflix premiere and went on to win an Oscar, and the makers expected Western audiences to show huge anticipation for Rajamouli’s next film, Varanasi. But that excitement does not seem to be there as of now. Even Ramayana, which is releasing a few weeks from now, has failed to create any huge buzz so far.
Also, the domestic promotions have been completely sidelined. International promotions are necessary, but Indian audiences remain crucial, as it is primarily a big-budget Telugu pan-India film, even one designed with global ambitions.
Rajamouli’s track record gives Varanasi a significant advantage. However, the makers still need to turn that goodwill into much bigger excitement, as the costs are huge and the film needs a minimum of Rs. 2,000 crores in worldwide gross to break even. With the release date under speculation and questions being raised about the promotional strategy, the coming months will be important.
