Varanasi Mega Launch: Mahesh Babu And SS Rajamouli Set New Industry Benchmark With ₹30 Crore Event

SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu’s upcoming film “Varanasi” made headlines with its extravagant pre-launch event held at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, on November 15, 2025. Touted as one of the most ambitious promotional events in Indian cinema, the gathering reportedly cost ₹30 crore and featured a star-studded lineup including Shruti Haasan, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran.

The film, previously known as SSMB29, is now officially titled “Varanasi” and is being positioned as a global cinematic experience. The event’s grandeur was matched by its commercial success, with streaming rights sold to Jio Hotstar for ₹50 crore, even before the film’s release.

Key highlights from the event include:  

• Shruti Haasan was paid ₹1 crore for her power-packed performance, adding glamour and musical appeal to the launch.
• SS Rajamouli unveiled the first look of the ₹1,200 crore film, introducing Mahesh Babu’s character Rudhra.
• The event featured multilingual presentations and international guests, reflecting the film’s global aspirations.
• Ajay-Atul’s live orchestral performance and immersive stage design elevated the cinematic atmosphere.
• The production team revealed that the film will be shot across multiple continents, with a storyline rooted in Indian mythology and global adventure.
• The ₹30 crore spent on the event covered logistics, celebrity fees, stage production, and digital broadcasting infrastructure.
• Industry experts noted that the scale of this launch sets a new benchmark for Indian film promotions, blending spectacle with strategic monetization.

Sources: Moneycontrol, Republic World, Sakshi Post.