Mahesh Babu turned a year older on Sunday, and the makers of his upcoming film Varanasi marked the occasion by releasing two new character stills. Both images show his character Rudhra on location in Africa, where portions of the film were shot.

Varanasi is director S.S. Rajamouli’s follow-up to RRR, and it marks his first collaboration with Mahesh Babu. The film also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha, with Mahesh Babu playing a dual role as Rudhra and a version of the Hindu god Rama.

The story spans centuries, moving between ancient timelines set in 512 CE and 7200 BCE and a modern day sequence set in 2027. Early reports describe the plot as centering on a race against time as a giant threat endangers the historic city of Varanasi, with the narrative drawing on imagery from the Ramayana.

Rajamouli has said filming is roughly 80 percent complete, with a new shooting schedule now underway at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. The production has struggled to keep footage under wraps. Multiple unauthorized clips from the Africa shoot and other locations have leaked online in recent weeks, including a short action sequence involving Mahesh Babu that circulated widely despite poor video quality.

The film’s teaser, released in November at a dedicated event called GlobeTrotter, drew close to 20 million views across YouTube channels within its first day. That reception set expectations high for a project already carrying comparisons to Rajamouli’s Baahubali and RRR franchises.

Varanasi is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 7, 2027, including an IMAX rollout. No new trailer has been released alongside the birthday stills, and the makers have not said when the next official promotional material will arrive. Fans will have to keep watching for leaks in the meantime, since Rajamouli’s team has kept the official campaign tightly controlled.