Varanasi Expected to Shatter Pushpa 2 Box‑Office Record

The Mahesh Babu‑led epic, slated for an April 7, 2027 release, is projected to fetch around ₹775 crore worldwide, eclipsing Pushpa 2’s ₹625 crore haul.

Rajamouli’s Varanasi is on track to rewrite the Indian box‑office ledger. The Mahesh Babu‑fronted epic, slated for an April 7, 2027 worldwide release, is projected to pull in roughly ₹775 crore, comfortably eclipsing Pushpa 2’s ₹625 crore haul that still sits as the all‑time theatrical business benchmark.

Track Tollywood reports that the film’s Telugu‑state rights have already attracted offers hovering around ₹300 crore, while overseas business is expected to add another ₹150 crore. North‑Indian, Karnataka, Tamil‑Tamil and Kerala markets together are forecast to contribute at least ₹325 crore. Add the rest of the country and the numbers swell to the ₹775 crore figure, assuming the estimates hold.

What makes the surge noteworthy is that Rajamouli appears to be doing it with a fresh narrative, not a sequel or an established franchise. Pushpa 2 rode the wave of an already beloved series and Allu Arjun’s pan‑Indian pull. Varanasi, by contrast, is built around a brand‑new story penned by Vijayendra Prasad, Rajamouli’s long‑time collaborator and father. The director’s name alone, coupled with Mahesh Babu’s “Super Star” status, seems to be enough to convince distributors to bet big before a single frame has been screened.

The cast adds another layer of gravitas. Priyanka Chopra Jonas, fresh off her Hollywood forays, joins Mahesh Babu and Malayalam star Prithviraj Sukumaran, promising a pan‑regional appeal. Their combined fan bases stretch from Hyderabad to Mumbai, from Chennai to Delhi, and even to the diaspora pockets that fuel overseas earnings.

Industry insiders say the early business surge could also tighten the film’s release window. With a spring 2027 slot, Varanasi will avoid the crowded summer blockbuster rush and may enjoy a relatively clean calendar, a factor that helped Pushpa 2 dominate the box‑office when it arrived in December 2025.

Still, the figures remain projections. Track Tollywood’s numbers are based on pre‑sale deals and market sentiment, not on actual ticket sales. If the film’s scale lives up to the teaser that dropped last November, the hype could translate into the kind of footfall that pushes the ₹775 crore target into reality. If not, the record could slip back to Pushpa 2’s comfortable lead.

Either way, the battle for the biggest theatrical business in Indian cinema is heating up. Fans of Mahesh Babu are already counting down the days, while distributors in the south are polishing their contracts. The next few months will reveal whether Varanasi can truly out‑gross the Pushpa sequel or simply join the list of high‑profile projects that fell short of sky‑high expectations.