SS Rajamouli has revealed that he has not been completely satisfied with the way Indian epics have been adapted for the big screen so far. The filmmaker now hopes to address this challenge through Varanasi, which he describes as the most ambitious project of his career.
In a recent interview, Rajamouli explained that although he has watched several films inspired by Indian epics, their storytelling and execution have not always matched the greatness of the original material. He believes the writing, visual presentation and overall scale of such adaptations have sometimes fallen short of what these legendary stories deserve.
With Varanasi, the director wants to create a cinematic experience that captures the grandeur of Indian epics while bringing their powerful emotions and larger-than-life characters to modern audiences. The project represents an opportunity for him to explore the subject on a scale that he believes has not yet been fully achieved.
Rajamouli considers this ambition one of the biggest challenges he has taken on as a filmmaker. His goal is to deliver a film that combines epic storytelling with spectacular visuals and emotional depth, making the experience engaging for contemporary moviegoers.
The director has previously demonstrated his ability to present grand narratives through films such as Baahubali and RRR. Both projects helped establish his reputation for creating visually impressive stories with broad audience appeal across language barriers.
Expectations surrounding Varanasi have consequently grown, particularly following his latest comments about the limitations he sees in previous cinematic interpretations of Indian epics. His vision suggests that the upcoming film is intended to go beyond visual spectacle and deliver a compelling portrayal of epic characters and their emotions.
The film features Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran in key roles. Their involvement has added to the interest surrounding the ambitious project.
Rajamouli's remarks have generated further curiosity about how he plans to translate his vision into a theatrical experience. However, whether Varanasi will achieve the scale, storytelling quality and emotional impact he is aiming for can only be determined when audiences get to watch the film.
Varanasi is scheduled for release on April 7, 2026, according to the provided information. The film is shaping up to be another major cinematic undertaking for Rajamouli, with his ambition to present Indian epics in a fresh and expansive way at the centre of the project.