Mahesh Babu is already in talks with potential collaborators

Director Rajamouli recently revealed that the shooting of “Varanasi” is expected to be completed by September, with only a slight possibility of extending into October. If everything goes according to plan, Mahesh Babu will finish his filming commitments by November.

However, that does not necessarily mean he will be free to move on to his next project.

Rajamouli is known for ensuring that his lead actors remain fully focused on his films until their release. If “Varanasi” arrives in theaters in April 2027 as planned, Mahesh Babu may not be able to begin shooting another film before then.

While he can lock his next project and start preparations from November onward, the first four months of 2027 are expected to be dedicated entirely to “Varanasi” promotions. Rajamouli reportedly intends to mount a global promotional campaign for the film, similar to the strategy followed by major Hollywood tentpole releases.

As a result, Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra are likely to spend considerable time traveling and participating in promotional activities across multiple markets.

That said, Mahesh is expected to use the intervening months to finalize his next film. Directors such as Prashanth Neel, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, and Anil Ravipudi are among the names being discussed as potential collaborators for his post-“Varanasi” project.