SS Rajamouli’s nextVaranasi, starring Mahesh Babu, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and , is one of the most-awaited projects of the industry.
The speculations had been making headlines for months, and now, after the official launch, fans are even more excited to see all the OGs together creating magic on the big screens. Mahesh Babu is taking Kalaripayattu training for the upcoming film a trainer from Hyderabad, Hari Krishna, who has spilled a few beans on the movie in a recent interview.
Mahesh Babu Learns Kalaripayattu For SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi
In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Hari opened up on training Babu, an ancient martial arts form of Kalaripayattu, for his upcoming film, Varanasi. He said, “I had trained Mahesh sir last year but was asked not to reveal it then. He would come to the academy to train on and off for months…I think Rajamouli sir’s team got my contact from him.”
Further, he added, “I did not give him any weapon training; most of it was for his body agility. The Ashta Vadivu (eight animal stances) will help improve his postures. He had watched YouTube videos beforehand, so he knew what he was in for. He also had some good knowledge about fitness in general. The initial plan was for me to train him for two months, but he liked it so much, he extended it by a few days.”
More About Varanasi
“Kalaripayattu was only one of the many he is now trained in. From what I know, the film will not have scenes of Mahesh sir practising the martial arts explicitly, but it is to make him more agile and flexible for whatever is planned. I am almost half his age, but he remained so respectful and followed everything I instructed him to do,” concluded Hari.
SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran, is slated for release for Sankranthi 2027.