Anil Ravipudi Denies Mahesh Babu Reunion Reports, Says Current Collaboration Buzz Is ‘Completely False’

Director Anil Ravipudi has rejected reports claiming that he will reunite with Mahesh Babu for the actor’s next film after S.S. Rajamouli’s Varanasi.

Addressing the speculation through his verified X account on August 25, Ravipudi described the information currently circulating as “completely false and untrue.” His statement directly contradicts recent stories claiming that the filmmaker and actor were discussing a new commercial entertainer, potentially targeting a Sankranthi 2028 release.

The clarification establishes that no such collaboration is currently confirmed. It does not, however, amount to a permanent rejection of working with Mahesh again.

What Anil Ravipudi said about the reported reunion

Ravipudi began his statement by emphasising his personal and professional regard for the actor.

“Superstar Mahesh Babu garu has always been a dear person to me,” he wrote. “I have immense love and respect for him, always.”

The director then addressed the reports directly: “Whatever news is currently circulating is completely false and untrue. Please don’t believe or spread such rumours.”

This wording matters. Ravipudi denied the specific claims being circulated in August 2026. He did not say that he would never collaborate with Mahesh again, nor did he announce a different project involving the actor.

The accurate position is therefore that a second Mahesh Babu Anil Ravipudi film is not on the cards at present, based on the director’s public clarification.

What were the reports claiming?

The speculation suggested that Mahesh was considering a comparatively quick commercial project after completing Varanasi. Some versions named Ravipudi as the filmmaker and claimed the proposed movie was being planned for the 2028 Sankranthi season.

None of these details was supported by an announcement from Mahesh, Ravipudi or a production company. No title, script, producer, cast or production schedule had been officially revealed.

Ravipudi’s response means those details should no longer be reported as an active development. At most, they form part of a rumour the director has expressly denied.

Why a reunion appeared plausible

The speculation attracted attention because Mahesh and Ravipudi previously collaborated on Sarileru Neekevvaru, released during Sankranthi 2020.

The Telugu action-comedy featured Mahesh as Major Ajay Krishna and also starred Vijayashanti, Rashmika Mandanna, Prakash Raj and Rajendra Prasad. The film was written and directed by Ravipudi and produced by Sri Venkateswara Creations, G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment and AK Entertainments.

Its combination of military action, family drama, comedy and a star-focused presentation reflected Ravipudi’s commercial style. The project also marked Vijayashanti’s return to cinema after a long absence.

Because the film performed strongly during its theatrical run and remains their only actor-director collaboration, the possibility of a reunion has resurfaced periodically. A successful earlier film, however, is not evidence that another project has been finalised.

Mahesh Babu remains focused on ‘Varanasi’

Mahesh is currently associated with S.S. Rajamouli’s Varanasi, an action-adventure that also features Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran.

The title and initial footage were unveiled at a large-scale presentation in Hyderabad in November 2025. The film’s official Dolby Cinema promotional material lists a theatrical release date of April 7, 2027.

Varanasi is the first collaboration between Mahesh and Rajamouli. Promotional footage has introduced Mahesh’s character as Rudhra, while the larger narrative has been presented as a time-spanning adventure incorporating Indian mythology.

With production and international release preparations still underway, Mahesh’s next assignment after Varanasi has not been publicly confirmed by the actor or an authorised production banner.

Until an official announcement is made, proposed directors, release windows and genres attached to his post-Varanasi film should be treated as speculation.

Does the clarification rule out a future film?

No. Ravipudi’s statement rules out the report currently in circulation, not every possibility of a future reunion.

The distinction is important because entertainment reports frequently turn a denial of one specific project into a broader claim that two artists will never work together. Ravipudi did not make such a statement.

His expression of affection and respect for Mahesh also indicates that the clarification concerns the accuracy of the current news rather than a disagreement between them.

A future collaboration could still happen if both parties agree on a script and schedule. At present, however, there is no verified project to announce.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The rumour emerged from a combination that appears commercially logical: Mahesh and Ravipudi have already delivered a major festival release together, while Ravipudi is known for completing accessible star-led entertainers without the extended schedules associated with large-scale spectacle films.

That logic may explain why the claim travelled quickly, but plausibility is not confirmation.

Ravipudi’s intervention is a useful reminder that an actor’s unannounced post-release plans can become a space for speculative casting and director combinations. Once an exact festival date such as Sankranthi 2028 is added, an unsupported possibility can begin to resemble scheduled production news.

For now, the verified position is simple: Mahesh is committed to Varanasi, Ravipudi has denied the present reunion story, and neither has announced their next collaboration.

Sources & Verification

This report was prepared using Anil Ravipudi’s verified X statement, official promotional material for Varanasi, archived announcements for Sarileru Neekevvaru and independent coverage documenting the claims that prompted his response. No production-house announcement, registered title or confirmed schedule supporting a second Mahesh Babu–Ravipudi film was identified.