Actor Sumanth opens up about Mahendragiri Varahi releasing on Sept 11

Ancient Lore, Modern Skepticism & Big-Screen Ambition: Sumanth Dives Deep into the High-Voltage World of Mahendragiri Varahi!

"My Biggest Budget Film in Recent Times": A Pan-Indian Leap

• Mounted on a Massive Canvas: "This is easily the highest-budget feature I have fronted in years. The visual effects, theatrical world-building, and production values were scaled up significantly once our producers saw the rushes. We are seeing genuine curiosity from northern circuits for the Hindi release as well."
• The Viral "Pedda Manavadu - Chinna Manavadu" Banter: Clarifying his speech from the pre-release event that set social media chuckling, Sumanth laughed: "I was just playfully teasing Akhil! Everyone calls him 'Ayyagaru'. Since I happen to be the eldest grandson in the Akkineni family, I joked that being the elder one, it would fit me well too. It was all in pure affection."

The Role: A YouTuber Debunking Superstitions

*"In the film, I play a modern content creator who runs a YouTube channel dedicated to busting myths, blind faiths, and occult superstitions. But when he finds himself trapped in the vortex of Mahendragiri, his intellectual convictions are tested against ancient, formidable realities.

Director Santhosh possesses an encyclopedic grip on the Vedas and ancient Puranas. He pitched this entire plot in a single sitting. The interval block, pre-climax, and climax sequences are designed to deliver massive adrenaline highs. While rooted in devotional lore, it also carries emotional family drama and three intense, full-throttle action blocks."*

— Sumanth

Siddu Jonnalagadda’s High-Voltage Scene & Clearing Murari Comparisons

• A Crucial Face-Off with Siddu: "Siddu has done a very serious, arresting character. There is an extended dialogue sequence between the two of us that stands as one of the biggest dramatic highlights of the entire film. Everyone who watched it in the editing suite was blown away. I'm grateful to Siddu for immediately coming on board."
• Addressing the Murari Resemblance: When asked about the trailer mentioning family members dying upon turning 33—a trope reminiscent of Mahesh Babu’s classic Murari—Sumanth explained: "While that specific curse point might fleetingly remind viewers of 'Murari', the backstory, mythology, and treatment are entirely different. The conflict here operates on a completely separate philosophical plane."
• A Story Conceived Before the Trend: "Many ask if we jumped on the devotional wave after 'Karthikeya 2' and 'Kantara'. In reality, Santhosh and I locked this script three years ago. It took time to find the right visionary producers like Madhu garu and Laxman garu, who previously worked closely with Dil Raju garu. Good concepts take time to brew."

Anoop Rubens’ Goosebump BGM & The 'Varahi' Factor

• Pounding Re-Recording: "Anoop's background score will give audiences goosebumps in theaters. The re-recording gives the visual effects emotional weight."
• The Sacred Title: Touching upon the reverence surrounding Goddess Varahi—magnified in recent times by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan's spiritual tour—Sumanth noted: "We had registered the title 'Mahendragiri Varahi' long back. The name Varahi carries immense spiritual positivity, and we believe that divine blessing will reflect on our film's reception."
• Eager for Negative Roles: Concluding on his artistic appetite, Sumanth affirmed his openness: "I love doing action, but I’ve also been openly eager to play menacing antagonists and complex character roles. If a script gives me a fierce villainous arc, I'll grab it without second thoughts."