Anticipation for SS Rajamouli's Varanasi is going up day after day, given that the filmmaker is also constantly making headlines for various reasons. However, on Tuesday, the film has sparked debates online for a completely different reason.
A photo of Mahesh Babu clad in a saffron dhoti and holding on to a bow and a quiver of arrows has been making the rounds on social media. Netizens immediately began speculating whether the photo has been leaked from the sets of Varanasi. However, some others also wondered if the image is real or AI-generated.
Just minutes after the photo surfaced online, fans began debating whether it was an actual leak or an AI-generated edit. While some users said they did not mind either way and were simply excited about the film, others remarked that generating such excitement through speculative images had become a common trend, claiming that Hollywood had popularised the tactic and others were now following suit.
Meanwhile, several users expressed confidence that the image was AI-generated. One user claimed that the photo had been edited and was not authentic, while another agreed, saying they did not believe it was original as the beard and long-haired look did not seem like something director SS Rajamouli would ultimately approve for the character.
Even as the debate over the image's authenticity remained unresolved, another fan compared the purported look to Ranbir Kapoor's appearance in Ramayana: Part 1, arguing that Mahesh Babu would make a better portrayal of Shri Ram.
Previously, Rajamouli teased the idea of Mahesh playing the role of Lord Rama. "On the first day, when Mahesh came in with Lord Ram's get-up for the photoshoot, I had goosebumps. I was torn. Mahesh has the charm of Krishna but the calmness of Ram. Still, I was confident. I even set that photo as my wallpaper and then removed it so that no one would see it," he shared in an interview.
Production on Varanasi is still underway. The film brings back Priyanka Chopra into Indian cinema after 2019's The Sky Is Pink. She is playing a character named Mandakini in the film. On the other hand, Prithviraj Sukumaran portrays the principal antagonist in the film, named Kumbha.
On the technical front, Varanasi has Academy Award-winning composer MM Keeravaani, cinematographer PS Vinod, editor Bikkina Thammiraju, production designers Mohan Nath Bingi and Sandeep Suvarna, and costume designer Rama Rajamouli. Produced by Dr KL Narayana of Sri Durga Arts and SS Karthikeya of Showing Business, the film is reportedly set for an April 07, 2027, release in theatres.
