Today on Priyanka Chopra’s birthday, the makers of SS Rajamouli’s much-awaited epic Varanasi unveiled the actor’s first look from the film, giving fans a glimpse of her fierce and charming avatar as Mandakini.

The first official images shared by Rajamouli showed the 44-year-old global icon in a bold all-black look, with wild curls and a sheer ensemble, hinting towards a grand sequence in the film. Mandakini has been described as “a fiery, globetrotting character who is strong, vulnerable and unforgettable in equal measure.”

The newly released look has also sparked speculation that it could be from the much-awaited dance sequence that Chopra had talked about earlier. The actor had revealed that he had requested Rajamouli for a dance number and shot a huge, high-energy sequence with co-star Mahesh Babu.

Rajamouli’s son SS Karthikeyan also wished the actor on

Varanasi This is Chopra’s first Indian theatrical release after the sky is pink (2019). Joining her in the film is Mahesh Babu, who plays the lead character Rudra and it is also rumored that he will portray Lord Ram in a crucial 20-minute sequence depicting the Ramayana war.

Malayalam star Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the antagonist Kumbha, described as a character with a “dangerously limitless” mentality. According to the makers, as the epic narrative progresses, Mandakini’s journey unfolds between the two central characters.

Priyanka Chopra in Varanasi

Earlier, during an appearance on the ‘Hey Jonas’ podcast hosted by husband Nick Jonas and her brothers Kevin and Joe, Chopra shared, “I’ve been working on it for about 14 months. But SS Rajamouli is known for taking that kind of time to make movies. He called me for this movie, and it’s this epic adventure across the world and in time. It took a minute, but I’m so excited about it. I’m in it.” Makes a lot of amazing slow motion jumps, and that’s all I can say about it.”

Written by Vijayendra Prasad and directed by Rajamouli, Varanasi Stars Mahesh Babu, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Priyanka Chopra. The film blends Indian mythology and folklore with science-fiction elements, including time travel, and is being billed as a globe-spanning adventure. Rajamouli has also said that the film has an emotional father-son thread at its core.

Varanasi Currently slated for theatrical release in April 2027.