RRR Director Teases ‘Terrifying’ Villain In Next Blockbuster Movie
S.S. Rajamouli, the visionary director behind global blockbusters like RRR and the Baahubali series, is renowned for his ability to craft epic tales with larger-than-life heroes. But for every great hero, there must be an equally compelling villain. In his upcoming film, Varanasi, Rajamouli is promising an antagonist who may be his most formidable creation yet.
At a massive announcement event in Hyderabad, India, details emerged about the film’s villain, Kumbha, who will be portrayed by acclaimed actor Prithviraj Sukumaran. The director himself reached out to Sukumaran with a tantalizing offer, signaling the character’s importance.
RRR Director On One of His Finest Characters
Prithviraj Sukumaran, a superstar in Malayalam cinema, recounted the moment Rajamouli approached him for the role. “I got a message from Rajamouli,” the actor recalled. “He said, ‘The character of the antagonist in my next film has come out exceedingly well and is one of my finest characters. Would you be interested in doing it?’”
That message was enough to get Sukumaran into a meeting, and what he heard next left him in awe. “Five minutes into the narration, I was blown away,” he shared. “I listened to it like a little boy who’s got his hands on the next edition of his favorite comic book. How does someone think like this? Where do you find the inspiration to picturize something like this?”
Sukumaran described Kumbha as “one of the most complex, the most emotionally and physically challenging characters that he [Rajamouli] has ever thought of,” building immense anticipation for the on-screen clash with the film’s hero, played by Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu.
A Terrifying and Mysterious Presence
While plot details for Varanasi are still scarce, the buzz around Kumbha is growing. Co-star Priyanka Chopra, who plays the female lead Mandakini, offered a chilling endorsement of Sukumaran’s performance. “Prithviraj, you’re very scary in the movie; terrifying,” Chopra said at the event, before clarifying, “But in real life you’re the complete opposite.”
Even less is known about Kumbha’s appearance or motivations. The villain was absent from the film’s teaser trailer, but a character poster revealed prior to the event offered a tantalizing clue: Kumbha is shown seated in a futuristic wheelchair equipped with robotic arms, suggesting a brilliant, Lex Luthor-style antagonist who relies on intellect over physical strength.
Set for a 2027 release, Varanasi is already shaping up to be a major cinematic event, not just for its celebrated director and star-studded cast, but for the promise of a villain who could redefine the archetype in Indian cinema. As Prithviraj Sukumaran noted, the film is poised to be a “collective pride,” taking Indian cinema to the world in a way that is “bigger, hopefully better, and more audacious than before.”
