Allu Arjun’s ‘Raaka’ first look out, Rajamouli’s ‘Varanasi’ plot revealed, Rajinikanth's ‘Jailer 2’ completes major sequence: Top 5 South stories for the day

There have been multiple major developments in South cinema today, with big announcements making headlines. From the unveiling of Allu Arjun and Atlee’s film title and first look, to details emerging about S. S. Rajamouli’s Varanasi, and updates on Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2—here’s a quick roundup.Allu Arjun’s film with Atlee, which also features Deepika Padukone, is now officially titled Raaka. The makers also unveiled the first look of the actor. He sports kohl-lined eyes, a receding hairline, and a thick grey beard. In the poster, he covers part of his face with a clawed hand and stares straight ahead. Allu Arjun also shared the poster on his social media handle with the film’s hashtag. Interestingly, the pose in the poster mirrors his profile picture, where he keeps his left hand covering half of his face. Atlee got emotional while sharing the poster and wrote, “#Raaka isn’t just a film… it’s a part of me I’ve carried for years. For 18 years, I held on to one idea, never letting it fade. It tested me, shaped me, and stayed with me through everything. And honestly… this is just the beginning.” The latest buzz around Jailer 2 suggests that veteran actor Mohanlal has reportedly completed shooting his portions for the film, as per Cinema Express. However, in a surprising development, Shah Rukh Khan is said to have opted out of a cameo appearance due to scheduling conflicts, despite earlier speculation about his involvement.Meanwhile, Rajinikanth grabbed attention during a recent airport interaction. When asked about the delay of Jana Nayagan, starring Vijay, the superstar said, “No comments...I don’t want to talk about it,” and avoided elaborating further. He also used the moment to share a message for youngsters, urging them to stay away from drugs and focus on their future. Reportedly, the synopsis of SS Rajamouli’s upcoming adventure epic Varanasi has surfaced online. The film stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The story is said to revolve around a time-travel narrative with a “cosmic twist.” The synopsis reads, “A Shiva devotee embarks on a perilous quest across time to uncover a lost cosmic artifact of immense power... he realizes the truth behind his mission—the very force that set him on this path is a calculating mastermind with a vision of absolute global domination.”Amid speculation about schedule cancellations, the team behind the much-awaited film starring Jr NTR and directed by Prashanth Neel issued a clarification. Dismissing the rumours, they stated, “There is absolutely no truth to the rumours circulating about the look or any schedule cancellation. The film is progressing as planned, with only a routine preparation gap. We request everyone not to believe or spread unverified information. Official updates will always come from us. #NTRNeel.”