For months, SS Rajamouli’s forthcoming epic Varanasi has enthralled fans who have pondered the plot. One theory, in particular, has caught the public’s interest. It follows Rudhra, a money-hungry freelancer navigating Varanasi’s chaotic streets. From temple performances to technology jobs and even near-illicit tourist schemes, Rudhra’s hustle knows no limits.
When a half-paralyzed billionaire named Kumbha engages Rudhra to traverse the seven continents in search of antique Energy Vials capable of opening a gateway to Treta Yuga, the narrative thickens. Kumbha contends the aim is to cure his paralysis using the mythical Sanjeevani. Attracted by the huge income, Rudhra reluctantly agrees to the assignment. But Mandakini, Rudhra’s keen-eyed girlfriend, believes Kumbha’s intentions may not be as honest as they seem.
Rudhra and Mandakini learn Kumbha’s true purpose as their path goes on: to distort time and rewrite mythology for personal benefit. Rudhra betrays Kumbha when he exposes his secret army and tries to crack the last vial buried under Varanasi. Driven by an unanticipated celestial intuition, he manually opens the gateway and launches onto Treta Yuga’s fiery battlefield.
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Rudhra meets Vanaras, Hanuman, then eventually Rama played by Mahesh Babu in Treta Yuga, who know the cosmic imbalance brought on by Kumbha. Rudhra battles Kumbha’s attacking army under their direction, protects the Sanjeevani, and seals the gateway eternally.
This fan hypothesis depicts Rudhra as the unlikely custodian of dharma—a corrupt man changed by circumstance into cosmic order defender—rather than as a traditional hero. If correct, Varanasi offers a spectacular visual feast blending mythology, adventure, and high-stake action across time and space.
The most convincing fan theory about Varanasi I have read so far
byu/Sulavillian inBollyBlindsNGossip
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