From Rajamouli's 'Varanasi' to Rishab Shetty's 'Jai Hanuman'

• by Akanksha Mishra
• 2026-10-27 13:22:00

Indian cinema is undergoing a monumental cultural shift as filmmakers increasingly draw inspiration from Sanatan epics, sacred scriptures, and ancient lore to craft large-scale cinematic spectacles. While director Nitesh Tiwari's Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Ramayanam continues to dominate national box office headlines ahead of its festive release, the production pipeline across Bollywood and southern film industries reveals that this is merely the beginning of an expansive mythological wave. Production houses are actively developing at least 11 major mythological, spiritual, and divine-fantasy projects that blend devotion with cutting-edge visual effects, mounting tales of deities, divine avatars, and revered saints for modern audiences worldwide.

SS Rajamouli's 'Varanasi' and Akshaye Khanna's 'Mahakali'

Leading the lineup of high-budget divine sagas are two projects exploring deep spiritual roots and cosmic forces:

SS Rajamouli's 'Varanasi': Ace director S.S. Rajamouli is crafting a globally mounted spectacle starring Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu alongside international icon Priyanka Chopra. Rooted in the mystical geography and eternal heritage of Kashi (Varanasi)—the sacred abode of Lord Shiva—the visual spectacle is slated to premiere on the big screen next year.

Akshaye Khanna in 'Mahakali': Focused on the fierce triumph of divine feminine energy over demonic forces, Mahakali depicts the slaying of the demon Raktabeej by Goddess Kali. Actor Akshaye Khanna plays the central antagonist role of the demon preceptor, Guru Shukracharya. The film is officially scheduled for a worldwide theatrical premiere on January 8, 2027.

Expanding Mythological Universes: 'Mahavatar Parashurama' and 'Kalki 2'

Major franchises are widening their interconnected universes through animation and futuristic fantasy storytelling:

Animated Epic 'Mahavatar Parashurama': Expanding the Mahaavatar Cinematic Universe, this ambitious animated venture chronicles the life, tapasya, and battles of Lord Parashurama, the warrior sage and sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. The feature is targeting a global theatrical rollout toward the end of next year.

Prabhas's Sci-Fi Epic 'Kalki 2': Following the nationwide impact of the opening chapter, the sequel to Nag Ashwin's epic brings the mythological narrative into sharper focus. The project deepens the futuristic and epic conflict between the Mahabharata warriors Karna and Ashwatthama, played by Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan respectively.

The Hanuman Wave: Rishab Shetty in 'Jai Hanuman' and 'Hanuman Ansh 2'

Reverence for Lord Hanuman continues to inspire parallel cinematic adaptations across different industries:

Prasanth Varma's 'Jai Hanuman': Riding on the monumental box-office run of Hanu-Man, filmmaker Prasanth Varma has cast Kantara star Rishab Shetty to step into the role of Bajrangi Bali. Positioned as a major superhero-mythological tentpole within the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU), the production timeline is actively moving forward.

Sequel to 'Hanuman Ansh': Building upon the runaway critical and commercial success of Hanuman Ansh, the creative team has officially greenlit Hanuman Ansh 2. The follow-up will delve deeper into modern spiritual mysticism and the devotional life of revered saint Neem Karoli Baba.

Sacred Chronicles of the Ramayana and Saint Goswami Tulsidas

The legacy of the epic Ramayana continues to spawn sequels and biopics:

Ranbir Kapoor's 'Ramayanam Part 2': With the first installment hitting silver screens during Diwali, the producers have reaffirmed their long-term blueprint, confirming that the concluding sequel, Ramayanam Part-2, will arrive in theaters during Diwali the following year.

'Ram Bola' by Vishal Chaturvedi: The creative director behind Hanuman Ansh has unveiled Ram Bola, a reverent biographical film charting the transformation of Goswami Tulsidas from his early days to the composition of the Ramcharitmanas. The project is being produced under the banner of Mahavir Jain Films.

Devotional Powerhouses: 'Mookuthi Amman 2', 'Mahaveer Karna', and 'Mera Yaar Bajrangi'

South Indian cinema and mass entertainers are expanding their slate with powerful cultural and mythical retellings:

Nayanthara Returns in 'Mookuthi Amman 2': Lady Superstar Nayanthara reprises her divine role as the fierce protector goddess in the action-packed mythological fantasy sequel Mookuthi Amman 2, whose promotional teaser recently sparked widespread viral excitement.

Raghava Lawrence as 'Mahaveer Karna': Directed by veteran filmmaker Ramesh Varma, this grand live-action historical epic re-examines the moral dilemmas and martial prowess of the tragic Mahabharata hero Karna, headlined by actor-choreographer Raghava Lawrence.

Ravi Kishan's 'Mera Yaar Bajrangi': Renowned actor Ravi Kishan has announced his upcoming devotional family entertainer Mera Yaar Bajrangi, unveiling its first look alongside a planned festive theatrical release window in 2027.

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