Bhubaneswar, Nov. 18 -- What was intended to be a spectacular unveiling of SS Rajamouli's ambitious film Varanasi transformed into an unexpected controversy. With Mahesh Babu's fierce new avatar as Rudhra stunning the crowd, the celebrated filmmaker- known for blockbusters like RRR and Baahubali- found himself at the centre of public outrage.

The spark? A candid confession about his beliefs and a moment of raw frustration that quickly ignited social media.

The uproar began on November 15, during the massive GlobeTrotter event at Ramoji Film City, where over 50,000 fans and industry insiders had gathered for the first glimpse of Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Technical glitches delayed th...