It is no surprise that director SS Rajamouli makes his actors undergo immense training before they play out their characters in his film. As expected, Mahesh Babu, who plays the lead in Varanasi, had to undergo rigorous training for his role which included Kalari, martial arts and athletic practice.

In a recent interview with Screen Rant Plus, Mahesh Babu, revealed that he will be playing the role of Lord Ram in Varanasi and recalled spending almost a year prepping for the character. The actor spoke about undertaking posture classes in order to learn to stand and walk like his character. Further, the Guntur Kaaram actor joked that despite there being only two shots for a running sequence in the film, he trained for six months to “change his running technique.” He also spent a couple of months learning martial arts and noted how taking up these classes helped him pull off the role with ease. “We had to take Kalari classes…and your body kind of opens up and it’s very easy to get into these postures,” said Mahesh Babu.

The actor also addressed that he has been preparing and working on Varanasi for nearly three years. He stated that he was mentally ready for the long commitment the project was going to demand. "(But) Once you're committed, it's a very enjoyable process," he remarked. Actor Prithviraj, who plays the role of Kumbha, echoed Mahesh Babu words by saying it wasn't "cumbersome" but engaging.  

Priyanka Chopra, who also plays a key role as Mandakini in the big-budget entertainer, had also joined Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj in the interview. She confirmed that the story travels through different time periods and across the globe, making it “the most ambitious film of SS Rajamouli.”

The team had recently announced that the much-anticipated film is scheduled to release on 7th April, 2027.