With director S S Rajamouli confirming that his much-awaited magnum opus Varanasi will hit screens on April 7, 2027, industry circles have already begun discussing the film’s massive box-office and pre-release business potential.
“Varanasi will have a huge release in Hindi and is expected to open in more than 400 theatres across North India. The openings are likely to be substantial,” says an industry source, pointing to the scale of the Mahesh Babu-Rajamouli collaboration.
The film is already being regarded as one of the most ambitious projects to emerge from Indian cinema, and the business discussions in the Telugu states are reflecting the enormous expectations surrounding it.
According to industry buzz, the Telugu states theatrical rights for Varanasi are being valued at more than Rs 220 crore. If a deal is finalised at that level, it would set a new benchmark for pre-release theatrical business in Telugu cinema. Leading distribution houses, including Dil Raju, Mythri Movie Makers and Sithara Entertainments, are reportedly among those interested in the Telugu states rights.
Such a massive valuation, however, also brings considerable pressure on the film and its buyers.
RRR emerged as a major blockbuster, but there were reports that some buyers in the Telugu states struggled to reach the breakeven point because of the exceptionally high theatrical prices. With Varanasi expected to command an even larger pre-release valuation, the stakes are correspondingly higher.
For Rajamouli, the challenge will therefore extend beyond delivering another successful film. The film will need to generate sufficient theatrical revenue across markets for distributors and exhibitors to recover their investments and make healthy profits.
Varanasi has the combination of Rajamouli’s track record, Mahesh Babu’s star power and a large-scale international canvas. The bigger test will be whether that combination can translate into sustained box-office business across India and overseas, allowing distributors in different markets to participate in meaningful profits.